FBI Chief Kash Patel Calls Out Stephen A. Smith Over Federal Gambling Ring Comments

Federal law enforcement head Kash Patel has publicly reprimanded sports commentator Stephen A. Smith after Smith made assertions linking a major gambling ring case to former President Donald Trump. In a nationally televised interview on The Ingraham Angle, Kash Patel said that Smith’s claim was

"the single dumbest thing I’ve ever heard out of anyone in modern history."

As per reports by The Independent, Kash Patel emphasized that the investigation he leads is based on evidence, not political motives. He stated that as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), he decides which arrests are made. He remarked soon after Smith’s commentary on the arrests of more than 30 people in a nationwide illegal gambling and racketeering operation. The case involves figures from the Portland Trail Blazers, such as coach Chauncey Billups and the Miami-based Terry Rozier.

Stephen A. Smith's Theory and Kash Patel's Response

Smith, on his First Take program, proposed that the arrests were not just about crime. Reports by The Independent suggest that he said they were part of a political move by Trump against sports leagues, especially those that protested his policies. He added that the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) might be next.

He said,

"Don’t be surprised if the WNBA is next on his list. When you got all of these protests against him and what have you, this man is coming."

Reports by The New York Post state that the numbers in the case are more than 30 arrests across 11 states, alleged multi-year fraud, money laundering and illegal gambling, with victims losing millions.

Kash Patel rejected the suggestion that the investigation was politically motivated. He said the FBI arrests people for crimes, not for statements or protest activity. He told the host that he "decides which arrest to conduct and which not to." He also dismissed Smith’s idea with strong language, calling the theory "the single dumbest thing I’ve ever heard out of anyone in modern history," and also added,

"And I live most of my time in Washington, D.C."

Broader context and implications

The case involves alleged ties between professional sports and organized crime. As per the reports by Fox News, Kash Patel described the operation as involving fraud, extortion, money laundering, and wire fraud linked to professional athletes and crime families like the Gambino crime family and the Lucchese crime family. He said the investigation is "just the start" of more work to come.

Kash Patel was criticized by some on social media for his leadership as a result of previous scenarios with the FBI. Still, he clearly believes the FBI wants to ensure it looks independent and data-driven and is not influenced politically or by any media charge.

This is not just about public perception of the FBI; it is about a fundamental loss of trust in the integrity of games played in sports. The well-known figures of Billups and Rozier give the case additional exposure. The league that oversees the WNBA said in a follow-up statement that it takes allegations seriously.

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The scope of the investigation may provide clarification in the days and weeks ahead. Kash Patel's statements should indicate to everyone that more indictments may need to occur. For the media and the public, the juxtaposition of Smith's opinion and Patel's reaction indicates how crime, sports, and politics can often diverge and intersect in very unpredictable ways.

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