Kash Patel Reveals Alleged FBI Secret Files Concealed in ‘Burn Bag’ Room

FBI Director Kash Patel has been dropping hints that some of the government’s most tightly held secrets might soon be revealed, including those hidden within ‘burn bags.’ In a recent appearance on Sean Hannity’s podcast, Patel, 46, delved beyond the usual law enforcement discussions. He reiterated to Hannity his discovery of ‘burn bags’ tied to the ‘Russiagate’ investigation, found in a concealed room within the department. ‘Burn bags are essentially large paper bags used to destroy, shred, and incinerate classified information,’ he explained to the Fox News host. ‘We uncovered these burn bags in a room that was not only locked away in FBI headquarters but also absent from our official blueprints.’

The files in question pertain to the FBI’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, an investigation former President Trump has repeatedly condemned as a ‘witch hunt.’ Although Patel claims he unearthed these records in August 2025, his future hangs in the balance amid swirling rumors of a potential removal by the Republican President, especially following Pam Bondi’s abrupt dismissal last month. On social media, Patel has been countering his critics, labeling their accusations as ‘baseless’ while committing to his mission of ‘rebuilding this Bureau from the ground up.’ Furthermore, he has initiated a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic after the publication accused him of ‘unexplained absences’ and ‘inebriation,’ allegations he firmly denies.

Patel has been under increased scrutiny, which intensified earlier this month. During his interview with Hannity, he also discussed a directive from the President that mandates federal agencies to release information on unidentified aerial phenomena and the quest for extraterrestrial life. ‘Trump established an interagency process with the Department of War spearheading efforts to release the documentation,’ Patel stated. He referenced a significant executive order signed by the President in February, which effectively commands federal entities to finally reveal details about unidentified aerial phenomena and the search for extraterrestrial life.

‘They’re going to be publicly releasing this information very soon. We are all for it,’ he added. Back in July of last year, Patel revealed a discovery of a stash of documents sealed away in ‘burn bags’ in a secret room of the bureau. The documents consist of the classified annex to former Special Counsel John Durham’s final report on the origins of the FBI investigation into Donald Trump’s original campaign, which includes the underlying intelligence he reviewed, a spokesperson for the FBI told the Daily Mail. Durham examined the FBI’s investigation into potential links between Trump campaign officials and Russia during the 2016 election and concluded the FBI should have not launched the investigation given the evidence it had at the time.

A person familiar with the discovery speculated to the Daily Mail that it was likely an oversight by previous directors that prevented the documents from being destroyed. The person added that it’s likely the documents would have never seen the light of day if the FBI wasn’t diligently looking through everything it comes across at the bureau. President Trump said he supported releasing the information at the time. ‘I want everything to be shown, as long as it is fair and reasonable,’ he said. ‘I would like to see people exposed that might be bad, and we’ll see how that all works out,’ he told reporters at the White House.

A ‘burn bag’ is a secure container used by government agencies to dispose of classified or sensitive documents, usually by burning or shredding, to prevent unauthorized access. Patel, who used to be one of the FBI’s most vocal critics, has set about remaking the bureau, including firing senior agents and reassigning others . When he began his tenure, he promised a ‘wave of transparency,’ including on the investigation into the possible ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia.