The FBI and Kash Patel have formally disputed a report aired by the media outlet MS NOW, which claimed that Patel had arrived in Russia for a two-day visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg. The network’s program, "State of Play," initially cited two unnamed sources familiar with the matter to support the claim that Patel was abroad.

In response to the report, the FBI released a video and additional information confirming that Patel was in Virginia at the time, specifically attending an event at Liberty University. The FBI publicly refuted the network's account, and Patel himself criticized the outlet for the inaccuracy. Following the verification of his location, MS NOW issued a correction regarding the false report.

While all sources agree that the report was incorrect, they differ in their characterization of the aftermath. The Hill focuses on the FBI’s formal refutation and the mechanics of the initial report. In contrast, Fox News and the Washington Examiner emphasize the public nature of the correction and the critical tone used by Patel and the FBI in response to the network's error. The Washington Examiner specifically notes that the network's report had alleged Patel was in Russia for specific events, a detail that was ultimately proven false.