FBI Director Kash Patel Criticized by Government Watchdog for Delayed Disclosure of Six-Figure MSTR Holdings

According to CoinDesk, FBI Director Kash Patel purchased stock in Bitcoin-holding company Strategy (MSTR) for between $100,000 and $250,000 on November 21, 2025, but did not disclose it to regulators until May 26, 2026, a delay of over 6 months, violating the 45-day disclosure deadline stipulated by the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act (STOCK Act). Patel later explained to the Office of Government Ethics that it was an unintentional omission caused by "miscommunication." Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette of government watchdog Project on Government Oversight bluntly criticized his behavior as "illegal," and called for a comprehensive ban on federal officials trading stocks. Deputy Assistant Attorney General William Taylor of the Department of Justice stated in a letter on May 28 that the transaction did not constitute a conflict of interest, and the DOJ has not yet fined him.