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By Shane Croucher
Senior Editor
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U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell lashed out at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over threats made against him and his children, accusing the bureau of doing more to protect Director Kash Patel's girlfriend than him and his fellow Democrats in Congress.
It comes amid bipartisan concerns about rising political violence in the U.S. and threats faced by lawmakers, officials, and activists, fueled by the incendiary rhetoric that has become commonplace in mainstream discourse. There have been several high-profile examples of violence against political figures, most notably the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The FBI had disputed California Democrat Swalwell's previous accusation that it was not proactive in protecting him and other members of Congress, saying he was either "misinformed or being dishonest" and that the bureau had "personally reached out to his office multiple times" to discuss any threats.
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"Spare me the b******t," Swalwell posted to X in response. "I don’t need you to reach out. Go arrest the monsters threatening my kids. Which you REFUSE to do. But when a MAGA supporter is threatened you’re Johnny-on-the-Spot. Kash’s girlfriend has better protection than any Democrat in Congress. You want us dead."
Alexis Wilkins Faces 'Hundreds of Credible Death Threats'
Patel's girlfriend, the country music singer Alexis Wilkins, has a protective detail from the FBI as she fights off what she says are false and defamatory claims made by social media influencers that she is a "honeypot" for Israeli intelligence sent to compromise the director.
“Ms. Wilkins is receiving a protective detail because she has faced hundreds of credible death threats related to her relationship with Director Patel, whom she has been dating for three years,” a spokesperson for the FBI told NBC News. “Out of respect for her safety, we will not be providing additional details.”
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She and Patel reportedly started dating in early 2023. Their relationship has been public knowledge for some time; she attended his swearing-in ceremony at the White House back in February, and they have both shared pictures of themselves together online.
Wilkins's name, though, has been pushed into the public consciousness following conspiracy theories circulating online about her, as well as by Patel having issued a statement where he slammed “baseless” attacks against her.
California Democrat, FBI Clash
Swalwell had originally posted to X that "I don’t want anything to happen" to Patel or Wilkins, adding: "Protect her if she’s threatened."
But he continued: "It’s just F’d up that he REFUSES to protect me and my kids from MULTIPLE specific death threats. Same for other Dem colleagues. Can only conclude he wants us dead."
Ben Williamson, Assistant Director for Public Affairs at the FBI, replied directly to Swalwell on the platform.
"Mr. Swalwell is either misinformed or being dishonest - the FBI has not 'refused to protect him' in any way. In fact our team personally reached out to his office multiple times, as recently as October 16th, to brief them on options available to Mr. Swalwell and ask whether any individual threats were not being addressed per his accusation," Williamson said.
He added: "His own office advised 1) they were clear on what threats should be reported to USCP vs. FBI, and 2) they were not aware of any specific threats that would require special attention for Mr. Swalwell.
"FBI checked in with the USCP again on November 4 to follow up, and USCP again reported no individual threats to Mr. Swalwell.
"Director Patel has instructed our team to maintain an aggressive posture toward protecting public officials from threats. That includes Mr. Swalwell. We protect all Americans and stand ready to engage with his team at any time."
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