Kash Patel
Official FBI Director
FBI director during the manhunt. Tweeted a suspect in custody on 10 Sep, then walked it back within about 90 minutes. Later faced bipartisan criticism over the investigation's first hours.
Facial recognition on day-of CCTV reportedly failed. FBI released photos and a $100,000 tip reward on 11 Sep before the family-arranged surrender. Senate Judiciary testimony 16 Sep 2025. A Feb 2026 Durbin whistleblower report said the FBI shooting-reconstruction team was delayed a day because of aircraft use by Patel. That delay is logged as an open investigative question about scene integrity, not as proof of a frame.