The FBI has removed a controversial two-minute video from its official X account following intense scrutiny and claims that the content violated the Hatch Act, The Hill reports. The video, which utilized a Michael Jackson beat, drew immediate criticism for targeting specific Democratic figures and candidates, including Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, by labeling them as part of a “defund the police crowd.”
The video was posted on Tuesday and quickly became a flashpoint for legal experts concerned about the use of federal resources for political messaging. It featured clips of various prominent Democrats such as former Vice President Kamala Harris, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Representative Ilhan Omar, and former Representative Cori Bush. The production was set to the music of “Smooth Criminal” and included footage of FBI Director Kash Patel, including a sequence where he walks away from a helicopter alongside Attorney General Todd Blanche.
The FBI accompanied the post with inflammatory text, stating, “The DEFUND THE POLICE crowd wanted America to ‘reimagine safety.’ Translation: Let criminals run wild while cops take a backseat.” The post further declared, “They sold slogans. We delivered handcuffs. CRIMINALS FEAR RESULTS, NOT HASHTAGS.”
Legal experts were quick to point out that this type of messaging from a federal agency is highly problematic
Delaney Marsco, the director of ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, explained that while discussing policy is standard, the shift toward partisan language and targeting specific candidates crosses a line. She noted, “If you are referencing political parties in a gratuitous way, in an inflammatory way, if it’s made close to an election, if it’s framed as an attack on a political party, that’s going to be political activity, and you need to be aware of how that’s going to run afoul of the Hatch Act.” She added, “It shouldn’t shock anyone that this is not compliant with the Hatch Act.”
Donald Sherman, the president and CEO of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, echoed these concerns in a post on X. He argued that the inclusion of El-Sayed as a “Progressive Democrat, Senate Nominee” was a deliberate attempt to influence an election.
Sherman wrote, “The video’s mention of El-Sayed as ‘Progressive Democrat, Senate Nominee’ clearly invokes the election. He is not a current gov’t official & his inclusion has no other purpose than to advocate for success or failure of a partisan candidate – a clear Hatch Act violation.” His organization has already filed a formal complaint with the Office of Special Counsel regarding the incident.
The controversy comes on the heels of other recent actions involving the administration. Director Patel recently appeared on Fox News and suggested that citizens should vote for candidates who “back the blue” and fund law enforcement, explicitly linking the FBI’s mission to the priorities of President Trump.
Additionally, the White House is facing a lawsuit from the Democratic National Committee, which alleges that taxpayer funds from the Department of Homeland Security were misused for campaign-style advertisements featuring the President.
For his part, El-Sayed has previously distanced himself from the “defund the police” label, describing it as an unnuanced slogan. He has expressed interest in funding local departments for better recruitment while also supporting reforms for cash bail and the integration of mental health specialists into emergency response protocols.
The FBI has not provided a comment on the removal of the video or the allegations surrounding its production.
Published: Oct 8, 2026 04:44 pm