Press Releases
Watchdog: Kash Patel Raked in Millions Consulting for Entities Tied to Foreign Adversaries
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Government watchdog Accountable.US released a new analysis on Trump FBI Director nominee Kash Patel’s pattern of consulting for entities that have come under bipartisan scrutiny for their ties to foreign adversaries – enriching himself by millions in the process. A review of Patel’s financial disclosure revealed his clients, and among the key findings:
- Patel consulted for CSGM A.S., the “service organization” providing strategic planning and other services to the Czechoslovak Group (CSG), a Czech arms company. In 2024, then-Senator JD Vance sent a letter urging Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to block their acquisition of a US-based arms company because of “serious concern” about the business. Vance said the group has “a long record of wrongdoing and well-documented connections to American adversaries,” including reckless arms sales and ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle.
- Patel also consulted for the Embassy of Qatar. In 2024, the embassy spent $180,000 on lobbying and registered a foreign agent to influence members of the public and government to view the Qatari government “in a positive light and to ultimately foster beneficial U.S. foreign policies” toward Qatar. Recently, Qatar has faced scrutiny from Republicans due to its involvement with Hamas. Patel has faced questions about whether he should have registered as a foreign agent for his work.
- Patel also consulted for Elite Depot Ltd., the controlling entity of Chinese fast fashion retailer Shein. A recent Accountable.US analysis found Patel reported owning between one and five million dollars in stock in the company, which was received as payment for consulting. Elite Depot’s board is comprised of Shein executives and the company’s investors. Two of these investors—IDG Capital and Sequoia Capital—faced scrutiny from lawmakers last year for their reputed ties to the Chinese Communist Party and its military apparatus. In recent years, Shein has drawn bipartisan criticism over their business practices, including using forced Uyghur labor. Just this week, the Trump administration considered adding Shein to the Department of Homeland Security’s “forced labor” list. In May 2023, members of Congress asked the SEC to require Shein to certify that their products did not use forced Uyghur labor. Throughout 2024, politicians, including former Senator and current Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Senator Tom Cotton, and a coalition of state AGs, stated their concerns about Shein’s business practices.
Beyond his woeful inexperience and history of grifting, Kash Patel’s lucrative consulting work for groups linked to foreign adversaries, including Russia and China, is disqualifying alone. Patel made millions from entities looking to curry favor with the United States, hoping to avoid more scrutiny than they’ve already received from Vice President Vance, Secretary Rubio, and other Republican leaders. Patel’s conflicts of interest are far too serious and threaten our national security interests.”
Tony Carrk, Accountable.US Executive Director
The vote on Patel was postponed after Senate Judiciary Democrats objected to proceeding without examining more of his troubling past.
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