Kash Patel Took $25,000 from Russia-Linked Firm for Anti-FBI Documentary
Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, was paid $25,000 by a Russia-linked production company to participate in an anti-FBI documentary last year. The six-part series, titled All the President’s Men: The Conspiracy Against Trump, was released on Tucker Carlson’s online network in November and pushes the MAGA conspiracy theory that a so-called Deep State worked to undermine Trump’s presidency.
Patel, who served in Trump’s administration and has been a vocal critic of the Trump-Russia investigation, was featured prominently in the fourth episode. In the documentary—where he is credited as an executive producer—he called the FBI corrupt, accused it of being on the Democratic Party’s payroll, and falsely claimed that the agency fabricated the Trump-Russia scandal.
“I’m the guy that’s going to tell you they need major reforms,” Patel said in the film. “I’m going to tell you to shut down the FBI headquarters building and open it up as a museum of the Deep State the next day.”
The documentary was produced by Global Tree Pictures, a Los Angeles-based company run by Igor Lopatonok, a Ukrainian-American-Russian filmmaker with past ties to Russian state-backed projects. Vera Tomilova, a Russian-born director and the company’s chief financial officer, is also listed as a producer. According to bankruptcy filings from Rudy Giuliani, who appeared in the series, Global Tree Pictures raised the financing for the project.
Patel’s involvement, along with his financial ties to a firm with Russian connections, raises ethical concerns as Trump moves to install him as FBI director if re-elected. His nomination has already sparked fears among legal experts and former intelligence officials, who warn that Patel could lead a purge of the FBI, particularly after his vocal support for dismantling the agency.
With Trump’s potential second term looming, Patel’s financial dealings and anti-FBI rhetoric are likely to face increased scrutiny in Washington.
