FBI Director Kash Patel took to social media Saturday to tout the bureau’s record in the first 200 days into President Donald Trump’s second term.
“200 Days of Trump Admin, From Jan 20 to Present: FBI has arrested over 1,600 people for violent crimes against children, to include 270 arrests for human trafficking,” Patel said on X.
Patel said agents have seized 1,500 kilos of fentanyl — “enough lethal doses to kill 113,850,000 Americans” — in that time, calling it the “most ever” and a 25% increase from the same period last year.
“We look forward to working with our @SecDef and DoD partners to getting after it even more, thanks @realDonaldTrump for the new authorities,” he added.
Patel also said the FBI had identified and located 4,000 child victims.
“FBI investigations targeting Foreign Terrorist Organizations has resulted in 1,000 arrests of those wanting to harm our nation. Seized 6,300 Kilos of methamphetamines = lives saved,” he wrote, adding the hashtag “#SummerHeat.”
The White House also posted on X Saturday, promoting “200 Days of American Renewal” and citing achievements from “historic border security to infrastructure revitalization.”
Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, who, a source said, had considered resigning earlier this summer over the administration’s handling of the Epstein files, reposted Patel’s update.
“This isn’t even the beginning of the beginning. More coming,” Bongino wrote.
Some Trump supporters have expressed frustration over the lack of transparency regarding the Epstein files. The Justice Department has denied the existence of an Epstein client list.
Last month, President Trump defended Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the matter, saying, “She’s really done a very good job.”
On Thursday, the FBI agreed to assist in apprehending Texas Democrats who fled the state to block the Texas House from reaching a quorum and conducting legislative business, according to a top U.S. senator representing the Lone Star state.
More than 50 Democratic lawmakers left Texas on Sunday, with many traveling to Chicago, to halt a scheduled vote on redistricting and effectively freeze all activity during the special legislative session. Their departure also served to avoid potential arrest by state law enforcement.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, on Tuesday requested that FBI Director Kash Patel have the FBI locate House Democrats out of state and detain them, according to reports.
“I am proud to announce that Director Kash Patel has approved my request for the FBI to assist state and local law enforcement in locating runaway Texas House Democrats,” Cornyn said.
“I thank President Trump and Director Patel for supporting and swiftly acting on my call for the federal government to hold these supposed lawmakers accountable for fleeing Texas. We cannot allow these rogue legislators to avoid their constitutional responsibilities,” he added.
Meanwhile, during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, President Trump was asked about Cornyn’s request to the FBI.
“Well, they may have to,” he said of the FBI assisting in detaining the absent Texas Democrats. “I know they want them back. The Governor of Texas is demanding they come back. So, a lot of people are demanding they come back. You can’t just sit it out. You have to go back. You have to fight it. That’s what elections are about.”
But Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), who is challenging Cornyn in a primary next year, didn’t think much of getting the FBI’s assistance. “This is a state issue. I don’t know what the FBI would have to do with this – nothing. This is a purely state issue,” he said on a podcast.
Cornyn countered that “the FBI has tools to aid state law enforcement when parties cross state lines, including to avoid testifying or fleeing a scene of a crime.”
“Specifically, I am concerned that legislators who solicited or accepted funds to aid in their efforts to avoid their legislative duties may be guilty of bribery or other public corruption offenses,” he added.