FAKE NEWS: Dilanian Says Kash Patel Traveled to Russia (He Was in Virginia)

Alex Christy
October 14th, 2026 2:22 PM

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MS NOW’s justice and intelligence reporter, Ken Dilanian, might want to check up on the “intelligence” part of his job title after a Wednesday scoop about FBI Director Kash Patel blew up in his face. Twice, Dilanian went on the air with his colleagues to report that Patel had landed in Russia when in actuality he was in Virginia doing an event at Liberty University.

During State of Play, host Peter Alexander began by reporting, “We do have some breaking news we want to get to right now here on MS NOW. This is about the FBI Director, Kash Patel. MS NOW has learned that Patel has landed in Russia for a meeting scheduled to take place there. That's according to two people familiar with the matter.”

 

 

Later, during On the Line, host Alicia Menendez had a similar opening, “Breaking news: FBI Director Kash Patel is now in Russia. That's according to two people familiar with the matter. Patel touched down there for a meeting just days after The Atlantic reported current and former FBI officials familiar with the matter said there was a quiet campaign to urge senior leadership to cancel the trip. The concern over this trip to one of the nation's top adversaries is easy to understand, especially less than three weeks out from the midterms.”

She then invited Dilanian to explain more about the phantom trip, and he obliged, “Well, Alicia, it's what we don't know that's really concerning. The FBI has said nothing about this. We're told that Patel did land in Russia today, and that this is a—intended to be a two-day trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg hosted by the FSB. But again, the FBI is saying nothing about this, officially or otherwise. “

 

 

Perhaps the FBI is saying nothing because it isn’t real. Meanwhile, various FBI X accounts had fun with the report. Assistant Director for Public Affairs Ben Williamson posted, “I have had many strange experiences in life, but in tier 1 had to be seeing a clip of MS Now reporting breaking news that Kash Patel has “just landed in Russia” - right as I’m receiving pics of Kash Patel doing a law enforcement appreciation event today in Lynchburg, Virginia”

FBI Rapid Response also mocked MS NOW’s reporter, “MS Now’s ‘sources’ are ‘familiar’ with NOTHING!” while posting pictures of Patel at the event with Rep. John McGuire, who posted a picture of himself with Patel at the event.

After much mockery on social media, Delanian returned to On the Line towards the end of the 1 p.m. Eastern hour to admit he goofed, “Alicia, I want to correct reporting from earlier today. I reported that two sources had told us that FBI director Kash Patel had landed in Russia for a planned trip that had been reported about recently. We've since learned that Patel did not, in fact, land in Russia today and remains in the U.S.”

 

 

However, Delanian still found a way to pat himself on the back, “The FBI did not answer our questions when he asked them about it. The news of this planned meeting had raised serious concerns, including among some Democratic lawmakers who had urged Patel to call off the meeting, which, according to published reports, was supposed to be happening today. But we do know now that he has not already landed in Russia, as we reported earlier. The timing of any potential trip remains unclear. Again, we regret this error and we are transparent about when we make errors. Back to you.”

Who among us hasn’t confused Liberty University and Lynchburg, Virginia, for Moscow or St. Petersburg?

Here are transcripts for the October 14 shows:

MS NOW State of Play with Peter Alexander

10/14/2026

11:44 PM ET

PETER ALEXANDER: We do have some breaking news we want to get to right now here on MS NOW. This is about the FBI Director, Kash Patel. MS NOW has learned that Patel has landed in Russia for a meeting scheduled to take place there. That's according to two people familiar with the matter.

***

MS NOW On the Line with Alicia Menendez

10/14/2026

12:29 PM ET

ALICIA MENENDEZ: Breaking news: FBI Director Kash Patel is now in Russia. That's according to two people familiar with the matter. Patel touched down there for a meeting just days after The Atlantic reported current and former FBI officials familiar with the matter said there was a quiet campaign to urge senior leadership to cancel the trip. The concern over this trip to one of the nation's top adversaries is easy to understand, especially less than three weeks out from the midterms.

Joining me now is now justice and intelligence reporter Ken Dilanian, along with Michael Feinberg, MS NOW national security and intelligence analyst and FBI former assistant special agent in charge. Ken, what more are you learning about this trip by Patel?

KEN DILANIAN: Well, Alicia, it's what we don't know that's really concerning. The FBI has said nothing about this. We're told that Patel did land in Russia today, and that this is a—intended to be a two-day trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg hosted by the FSB. But again, the FBI is saying nothing about this, officially or otherwise. 

...

1:55 PM ET

DILANIAN: Alicia, I want to correct reporting from earlier today. I reported that two sources had told us that FBI director Kash Patel had landed in Russia for a planned trip that had been reported about recently. We've since learned that Patel did not, in fact, land in Russia today and remains in the U.S. The FBI did not answer our questions when he asked them about it. The news of this planned meeting had raised serious concerns, including among some Democratic lawmakers who had urged Patel to call off the meeting, which, according to published reports, was supposed to be happening today. But we do know now that he has not already landed in Russia, as we reported earlier. The timing of any potential trip remains unclear. Again, we regret this error and we are transparent about when we make errors. Back to you.

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