(NewsNation) — A group of senators is investigating FBI Director Kash Patel’s use of agency funds, including personal use of the bureau’s jet and the purchase of BMWs, which a senior FBI official denied in detail in a response to NewsNation.

This week, a letter from Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Jamie Raskin claimed Patel “frequently (demanded) special perks on ‘official’ trips around the globe,” including a VIP snorkeling experience in Hawaii, a “taxpayer-funded helicopter tour” in South Asia and other “recreational activities like jet skiing.”

The Democrats also accused Patel of opening an office in New Zealand, “…in part to justify a sightseeing trip you took there.”

“You demoted personnel in Brussels because they failed to ensure you were adequately entertained, stoking fear among rank-and-file agents that they must provide your demanded perks or face termination,” the letter also stated. 

Durbin and Raskin launched an investigation into Patel’s use of FBI resources, alleging he abused them for personal entertainment. 

MS NOW reported this week that Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley sent a private letter to Patel in May that requested documents about his travel using FBI resources and aircraft, and other alleged mishandling of government spending.

According to MS NOW, Grassley implored, “For each trip where you used an FBI aircraft for personal travel, have you reimbursed the FBI as required by law?  If yes, please provide the records.”  

The Republican also questioned why the bureau purchased BMW vehicles instead of Chevy Suburbans. 

A senior FBI official told NewsNation, “The accusations within the letter are completely false.”

Senior FBI official denies accusations of lavish spending; demanded perks

The senior official sent NewsNation a lengthy response to individual accusations, starting with the trip to Hawaii, which they said “met all ethics requirements and has been publicly supported by both the Department of War.”

In East Asia, the senior official called the jet skiing and helicopter tour accusations false, and said in New Zealand, the new office opening was an “official event and the first new legal attaché office opening in a decade.”

The senior official rebuked the accusation about Patel’s reason for demoting FBI personnel in Brussels, saying “personnel are only fired or reassigned based on performance or if they have been found to have undermined the mission. Any suggestion otherwise is false.”

“Under Director Patel’s leadership, the FBI has made multiple critical decisions to SAVE taxpayer funds and reallocate those funds to better serve American taxpayers, with historic results – including a record 20% drop in the national murder rate, 198% increase in violent crime arrests year to year, and more,” the senior official said. 

Patel’s jet use was ‘fully consistent’ with FBI requirements: Senior official

The senior FBI official stated Patel’s use of the FBI jet was “fully consistent” with bureau policy. 

“FBI Director Patel has reimbursed ALL personal travel and expenses, strictly following the Office of Management and Budget rules, in the exact same manner as all previous FBI Directors- and is fully compliant,” the senior official stated. 

The senior official said the director is required to reimburse the use of the jet when it’s used for personal reasons, noting that Patel and other senior government officials are prohibited from flying on commercial airlines. 

The official said Patel has taken fewer personal days and personal trips than previous FBI directors. 

“Unlike his predecessors, Director Patel also codified those changes in FBI policy to mandate the use of government airfields, particularly for travel within the National Capital Region—saving millions of taxpayer dollars in take-off and landing fees this Administration to-date and beyond,” according to the senior official. 

BMWs purchased to replace aging vehicles: senior FBI official

The senior official’s response to NewsNation additionally addressed the bureau’s purchase of BMW armored vehicles. They said the vehicles were purchased from the State Department to replace two armored cars that had maintenance issues. 

“These vehicles had already been purchased by the State Department, sitting idle and unused in their warehouse,” the senior official said. 

The senior FBI official also said the “FBI procured two armored BMWs, which are significantly less expensive — saving over $1 million each — vs. the alternative (armored Suburbans). [Saving $270k per vehicle + canceled suburban contract of nearly $2M.]”

Diana Falzone is the senior national investigations reporter at NewsNation Digital, covering the federal government, warzones and top-level criminal investigations.