FBI and Justice Department struggle to beat back conspiracies their leaders once fanned

FBI Director Kash Patel speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, on November 12, 2025. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

When the FBI director came back from Asia touting a major win for the administration’s drug crackdown last week, his victory lap was cut short by yet another development in the Jeffrey Epstein saga.

When Patel took the podium in the White House press briefing room Wednesday, the news of the administration’s efforts to stem fentanyl production — a major priority for the president — took a backseat to headlines about the latest dump of documents by the House Oversight Committee.

For Patel and other FBI and Justice officials, the first 10 months in office have featured a series of headaches, with theories once peddled by the president’s loyal supporters-tur