By Trendsetter Tribune 
FBI Director Kash Patel claimed credit for dismantling a $250 million fraud scheme — but conservative critics say the investigation began under the Biden administration.
FBI Director Kash Patel faced an unexpected backlash this week after celebrating what he described as a major victory against fraud — only to be accused of taking credit for work that didn’t start on his watch.
In a weekend post on X, Patel highlighted the FBI’s role in unraveling a massive federal food-aid scheme in Minnesota. The case involved hundreds of millions of dollars siphoned from child nutrition programs during the pandemic.
“The FBI surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs,” Patel wrote, pointing to what he called decisive action to shut down abuse.
But the celebration didn’t last long.
Critics — including high-profile figures on the political right — blasted Patel for what they said was an attempt to rewrite history.
Conservative commentator Christopher Rufo accused Patel of claiming victories that belonged to the Biden-era FBI.
Rufo argued that the real question isn’t about cases already prosecuted — it’s about the fraud that remains untouched, and the lack of new arrests since Patel took over.
Patel’s post referenced a case first announced in September 2022, when federal prosecutors charged dozens of defendants in what became one of the largest pandemic-era fraud cases in the country. Since then, the number of people charged has grown, and more than fifty defendants have already been convicted.
To critics, that timeline matters.
One X user, describing himself as a longtime small-business advocate, summed up the frustration bluntly: if the case was already dismantled years ago, what exactly is Patel taking credit for today?
The dispute highlights a growing tension inside conservative circles: the expectation that the FBI will aggressively chase down fraud, corruption, and government abuse — and impatience when results feel recycled or overstated.
For Patel, the message was meant to project strength and competence.
Instead, it sparked a very different question:
This is misleading. Kash is trying to take credit for investigations and convictions that occurred under the Biden Administration. But the question is about the fraud that remains unpunished. When do we see arrests, mugshots, and new prosecutions? https://t.co/LL6nmyX6Ze
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@christopherrufo) December 29, 2025
What comes next — and how will the new FBI leadership prove it?