FBI Wins Big on Spies—But Faces Civil War Under Patel

Paul Riverbank, 12/2/2025FBI scores espionage victories but battles internal turmoil, leadership doubts, and political tensions.

Kevin Luke, once a high-ranking Army colonel, slipped up badly. In a case that didn’t lack drama, he admitted to leaking top-secret military plans. There’s little ambiguity about his fate: The former officer faces up to ten years behind bars, a sentence prosecutors hope sets an example. The FBI’s statement hammered that point, echoing a simple warning—classified is just that, no matter who’s asking or how innocent the conversation seems.

But the agency didn’t stop there. A quieter, perhaps more unsettling episode played out when Yunqing Jian, a visiting Chinese national, ran afoul of authorities. Authorities say he tried to sneak a hazardous pathogen past security and, when caught, chose to lie about it. The specifics remain under wraps, though the gravity of ferrying such a substance into the country is obvious. Jian’s since been sent packing, with the unmistakable message that the FBI is keeping a sharp eye on who walks in (and what they’re carrying).

Then comes the story of Chenguang Gong—a name not well-known until now—who was found guilty of spiriting away sensitive missile detection files. Thousands of them. Prosecutors painted a picture of a subtle but damaging theft meant to hand a strategic edge to the wrong hands. Four years in prison await him, a verdict intended to reverberate far beyond his cell.

Not everyone hauled into custody was operating from a lab or military base. Nathan Gill, who once held a seat in the European Parliament, now confronts a decade-plus behind bars for work that prosecutors allege helped serve Russian interests. The FBI notes, pointedly, that protecting democratic institutions doesn’t stop at the water’s edge. This case, pieced together in partnership with British authorities, hints at a wider reach—and deeper worries—about foreign influence mingling with domestic affairs.

If all this reads like a victory lap for the Bureau, a few cracks have started to show inside the building. Dozens of pages of internal assessments have made their way outside—or at least enough for observers to catch a glimpse of the turbulence within.

There’s no shortage of blunt language. Director Kash Patel is described by his own staff as out of depth, and less charitably, as someone who has trouble commanding respect. Deputy Director Bongino doesn’t fare much better, dismissed in several quarters as lacking seriousness. One odd anecdote has already achieved small-scale legend: Patel, underground in an investigation, refused to emerge from an airplane until he found a raid jacket. None fit. In the end, he reportedly wore a female agent’s spare, with officers hastily covering mismatched patches. It isn’t exactly the sort of story that inspires confidence in the leadership suite.

Yet deeper fractures exist. Political tensions simmer—some agents complain of widespread “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” claiming that partisan fervor has clouded judgment. The implication is not only that political divisions remain unresolved, but that they’ve crept into the heart of the Bureau’s decision-making. Staff morale has taken further hits over unexpected assignments; being sent to bolster immigration enforcement, for instance, triggered grumbling about ill preparation and mismatched priorities.

Then, overlay a political climate where the White House stands firmly behind Patel. When rumors of a leadership shakeup surfaced, President Trump stamped them out, calling the director “great” and brushing away the speculation in typical fashion.

Not all concerns are just about politics. When President Trump issued pardons related to January 6 defendants, internal unease reportedly spiked. One employee admitted fearing reprisals—against staff and even their families—from those newly freed or their supporters.

Hovering over this mess is a sense that years of controversial hiring policies—favoring educators over seasoned law enforcement—are now being questioned as the FBI’s core identity comes under stress.

Outside, the agency’s work continues—spies behind bars, foreign threats unmasked, American assets protected. But inside, beneath the steady clatter of investigations, the mood is something else entirely. If the leadership manages to knit these threads back together, it will likely prove as tough a job as hunting any adversary. With trust at a premium and the stakes as high as ever, the fate of the FBI—and the security it’s meant to safeguard—remains very much a work in progress.

For a moment, you almost forget there’s trouble brewing inside the FBI. After all, it’s been a season of big headlines and even bigger busts—traitors unmasked, secrets intercepted, and foreign agents shown the door.Kevin Luke, once a high-ranking Army colonel, slipped up badly. In a case that didn’t lack drama, he admitted to leaking top-secret military plans. There’s little ambiguity about his fate: The former officer faces up to ten years behind bars, a sentence prosecutors hope sets an example. The FBI’s statement hammered that point, echoing a simple warning—classified is just that, no matter who’s asking or how innocent the conversation seems.But the agency didn’t stop there. A quieter, perhaps more unsettling episode played out when Yunqing Jian, a visiting Chinese national, ran afoul of authorities. Authorities say he tried to sneak a hazardous pathogen past security and, when caught, chose to lie about it. The specifics remain under wraps, though the gravity of ferrying such a substance into the country is obvious. Jian’s since been sent packing, with the unmistakable message that the FBI is keeping a sharp eye on who walks in (and what they’re carrying).Then comes the story of Chenguang Gong—a name not well-known until now—who was found guilty of spiriting away sensitive missile detection files. Thousands of them. Prosecutors painted a picture of a subtle but damaging theft meant to hand a strategic edge to the wrong hands. Four years in prison await him, a verdict intended to reverberate far beyond his cell.Not everyone hauled into custody was operating from a lab or military base. Nathan Gill, who once held a seat in the European Parliament, now confronts a decade-plus behind bars for work that prosecutors allege helped serve Russian interests. The FBI notes, pointedly, that protecting democratic institutions doesn’t stop at the water’s edge. This case, pieced together in partnership with British authorities, hints at a wider reach—and deeper worries—about foreign influence mingling with domestic affairs.If all this reads like a victory lap for the Bureau, a few cracks have started to show inside the building. Dozens of pages of internal assessments have made their way outside—or at least enough for observers to catch a glimpse of the turbulence within.There’s no shortage of blunt language. Director Kash Patel is described by his own staff as out of depth, and less charitably, as someone who has trouble commanding respect. Deputy Director Bongino doesn’t fare much better, dismissed in several quarters as lacking seriousness. One odd anecdote has already achieved small-scale legend: Patel, underground in an investigation, refused to emerge from an airplane until he found a raid jacket. None fit. In the end, he reportedly wore a female agent’s spare, with officers hastily covering mismatched patches. It isn’t exactly the sort of story that inspires confidence in the leadership suite.Yet deeper fractures exist. Political tensions simmer—some agents complain of widespread “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” claiming that partisan fervor has clouded judgment. The implication is not only that political divisions remain unresolved, but that they’ve crept into the heart of the Bureau’s decision-making. Staff morale has taken further hits over unexpected assignments; being sent to bolster immigration enforcement, for instance, triggered grumbling about ill preparation and mismatched priorities.Then, overlay a political climate where the White House stands firmly behind Patel. When rumors of a leadership shakeup surfaced, President Trump stamped them out, calling the director “great” and brushing away the speculation in typical fashion.Not all concerns are just about politics. When President Trump issued pardons related to January 6 defendants, internal unease reportedly spiked. One employee admitted fearing reprisals—against staff and even their families—from those newly freed or their supporters.Hovering over this mess is a sense that years of controversial hiring policies—favoring educators over seasoned law enforcement—are now being questioned as the FBI’s core identity comes under stress.Outside, the agency’s work continues—spies behind bars, foreign threats unmasked, American assets protected. But inside, beneath the steady clatter of investigations, the mood is something else entirely. If the leadership manages to knit these threads back together, it will likely prove as tough a job as hunting any adversary. With trust at a premium and the stakes as high as ever, the fate of the FBI—and the security it’s meant to safeguard—remains very much a work in progress.