MS NOW issued an on-air correction after erroneously reporting that FBI Director Kash Patel had landed in Russia. The network stated that Patel was actually in Virginia, a fact confirmed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation shortly after the initial broadcast.
The error began when MS NOW anchor Peter Alexander told viewers that the network had learned Patel had landed in Russia for a scheduled meeting. Alexander cited two people familiar with the matter as the source for the claim. The broadcast then featured Justice and intelligence reporter Ken Dilanian, who expressed concern from his FBI sources regarding the trip. Dilanian suggested the move would raise eyebrows, particularly because Patel's potential hosts included the FSB, Russia's security service.
The FBI Rapid Response account on X quickly responded to the broadcast, mocking the network's report. The account noted that Patel was in Virginia for a law enforcement appreciation event at Liberty University. The post included the statement, "MS Now's 'sources' are 'familiar' with NOTHING." Patel also responded to the coverage, writing "Facts over clickbait."
Later in the day, Dilanian returned to MS NOW to address the mistake. He stated that the network had since learned Patel did not land in Russia and remains in the United States. Dilanian noted that the FBI did not answer the network's questions when asked about the trip. He clarified that while Patel had not landed in Russia as reported earlier, the timing of any potential trip remains unclear. The reporter concluded by saying the network regrets the error and is transparent about its mistakes.
When reached for comment by Fox News Digital, MS NOW directed inquiries to Dilanian's on-air remarks. The context for the confusion traces back to a July report by Politico, which stated that Patel had a planned trip to Russia that would include stops in Moscow and St. Petersburg.