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FBI Director Snorkels USS Arizona Wreck, Officials Decry

5/15/2026

Summary

Story summary

Military officials arranged a snorkel around the sunken USS Arizona for FBI Director Kash Patel in August 2025.
Patel snorkeled at the memorial while the FBI said his Joint Base Harbor-Hickam stop was part of national-security engagements with New Zealand, Australia, Honolulu and the Department of War.
Navy Captain Jodie Cornell confirmed the outing, said participants were briefed not to touch the wreck, and government diver Hack Albertson called the snorkel inappropriate.

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Story summary

Military officials arranged a snorkel around the sunken USS Arizona for FBI Director Kash Patel in August 2025.
Patel snorkeled at the memorial while the FBI said his Joint Base Harbor-Hickam stop was part of national-security engagements with New Zealand, Australia, Honolulu and the Department of War.
Navy Captain Jodie Cornell confirmed the outing, said participants were briefed not to touch the wreck, and government diver Hack Albertson called the snorkel inappropriate.