On Friday, MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” gave airtime to former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi, who accused Patel of spending more time in nightclubs than at FBI headquarters. “Reportedly, he’s been visible at nightclubs far more than he has been on the seventh floor of the Hoover building,” Figliuzzi claimed, adding that Patel’s daily intelligence briefings had supposedly been reduced from daily to just twice a week.

But as of Monday, those allegations collapsed under scrutiny.

During Monday’s broadcast, host Jonathan Lemire addressed the situation directly, backtracking on the story that had already spread across left-leaning media outlets. “This was a misstatement,” Lemire said. “We have not verified that claim.”

The correction comes amid heightened media attention on Patel, who has played a central role in reshaping the FBI under President Donald Trump’s second term. As director, Patel has been tasked with restoring trust in federal law enforcement and purging what the administration views as political bias left over from the Obama and Biden years.

The baseless nightclub story gained traction quickly, with critics using it to paint Patel as unserious or absentee in his high-stakes role. But it now appears the source of that narrative was speculative at best, and MSNBC had no hard evidence to support it.

Fox News Digital reached out to MSNBC for additional comment, but the network did not respond. A spokesperson for the FBI, Ben Williamson, declined to comment.

The personal attack on Patel raised eyebrows not just because of its questionable sourcing, but because it echoed a pattern of politically motivated media hit jobs that have followed him for years. As a former Trump administration official and a lead investigator in the House Intelligence Committee’s probe of the Russia collusion narrative, Patel has long been a target for the corporate press.

Supporters of Patel quickly rallied behind him, pointing out the discrepancy between Friday’s accusations and Monday’s quiet walk-back. One GOP aide in Washington noted, “If someone on Fox had made a false accusation like that about Merrick Garland, the media would be screaming for resignations. But because it was Kash and because it came from MSNBC, they just hope no one notices.”

This episode follows Patel’s recent refocusing of duties after Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll replaced him as acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. According to a source close to the FBI director, Patel voluntarily stepped away from the ATF position to concentrate on his role leading the Bureau full-time. That decision was welcomed by many within the administration as the FBI takes on a critical role in Trump’s Operation Take Back America—targeting cartels, trafficking rings, and embedded political operatives within federal agencies.

The FBI under Patel has already made headlines for ramping up efforts to capture terrorist-linked criminals, including a recent $5 million bounty for the leader of MS-13. His record of aggressive enforcement and internal reform has gained praise from conservatives but also made him a frequent target of establishment critics and progressive media.

Despite MSNBC’s quiet correction, the damage was arguably already done, with the nightclub rumor still circulating on social media. Critics say the network’s casual treatment of the facts reflects a broader bias and a willingness to peddle innuendo as news—so long as the target wears a red tie.

In the end, this brief controversy may say less about Kash Patel’s nightlife and more about the media’s continued struggle to adjust to the Trump-era FBI: one that fights back.

As one user on X put it, “MSNBC tried to smear Kash with nightclub lies, but the only party he’s crashing is the Deep State’s.”