Two separate developments roiled the national political landscape Monday: Salt Lake City authorities arrested two men after an incendiary device was found beneath a local Fox News vehicle, and the White House and Justice Department publicly reaffirmed support for FBI Director Kash Patel amid scrutiny of the bureau's handling of the investigation into the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Salt Lake City police and bomb squads responded Friday to reports of a suspicious device under a vehicle near an occupied building and determined an incendiary device had been placed under a FOX13 News van, according to a probable cause statement reviewed by FOX13. Two men, identified in records as Adeeb Nasir, 58, and Adil Justice Ahmed Nasir, 31, were arrested at a Magna residence on Sunday after an FBI-secured search of the property, the statement said. Authorities said the device had been lit but "failed to function."
Officials evacuated the immediate area as bomb technicians rendered safe the device, the records show. Investigators recovered what they described as two devices that turned out to be "spoof" weapons of mass destruction, along with firearms, additional explosive devices, explosive-related components, illegal narcotics and related paraphernalia. Electronic devices believed to contain evidence were also seized, the probable cause statement said. Both men were found at the Magna home, authorities said. Signs and political flags were visible at the property in footage taken by the targeted outlet, FOX13.
Jail records reviewed by the Daily Mail show both suspects face multiple charges, including two counts related to weapons of mass destruction—manufacture, possession, sale or use—attempted aggravated arson, multiple counts of possessing explosive components and counts related to threats of terrorism, the outlet reported. Adeeb Nasir, described in records as a U.S. citizen born in Pakistan, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail and ordered held without bail. Authorities did not immediately provide public comment Monday about the suspects' relationship or a motive.
FOX13 said it was working closely with law enforcement and its risk management team and that the safety of employees was its top priority. The Salt Lake City Police Department, the Unified Fire Authority and the FBI were reported to be involved in the ongoing investigation.
Separately, the federal law enforcement leadership drama that followed the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk continued to draw national attention. The White House and the Justice Department on Monday issued statements backing FBI Director Kash Patel after weeks of criticism and a high-profile communications misstep during the manhunt following Kirk's death.
Patel came under scrutiny after posting on social media during the investigation that a "subject" was in custody; authorities later clarified the person mentioned had been interviewed and released after questioning and was not the shooter. Patel acknowledged on television that his post "could have been worded a little better" but defended his decision to share information with the public, saying he was being transparent about the bureau's actions.
In the days following the shooting, federal sources and media reports described heated debates within law enforcement and the White House over communications and investigative handling. The Daily Mail reported Monday that the creation of a new deputy slot at the FBI and the appointment of former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey as a co-deputy alongside Dan Bongino had fueled speculation about internal realignments; sources quoted by the Daily Mail suggested the personnel move reflected concern about Bongino's standing rather than an effort to oust Patel. Bailey told Fox News he was not hired to replace anyone and rejected suggestions his appointment signaled division at the bureau.
The White House and the Justice Department moved to quash talk of a planned removal of Patel. In a joint statement, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said they work with Patel "every single day and fully support his leadership at the FBI," and credited the director and law enforcement partners for bringing the alleged shooter into custody. The statement added that any suggestion to the contrary did not reflect the reality of their working relationship.
Patel's defenders have pointed to the rapid arrest and charging of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson less than two days after Kirk was shot during a debate on a Utah university campus. Robinson was detained about 33 hours after the shooting and later charged in the killing, according to law enforcement statements.
The events have intensified partisan debate about federal law enforcement leadership and communications in high-profile cases. Three former senior FBI officials filed a lawsuit on the day of Kirk's death alleging they were illegally dismissed as part of a political purge tied to the White House, filings show. Those earlier conflicts contributed to heightened scrutiny of the FBI director in the wake of the shooting and the agency's public communications.
Patel defended his approach to media engagement in interviews, saying transparency about investigative steps was appropriate and that he welcomed scrutiny. "Could I have worded it a little better in the heat of the moment, sure," he told Fox & Friends. "But do I regret putting it out? Absolutely not."
Both the Salt Lake City investigation and the internal debates over FBI leadership remain active. Authorities in Utah said the probe into the device found beneath the FOX13 vehicle is ongoing and that federal and local partners continue to investigate the source of the devices and the suspects' conduct. The Justice Department and the FBI did not provide additional comment Monday beyond published statements supporting Patel's leadership.