Details about protecting one fight may have sparked another, according to a report on “furious” sentiments directed toward FBI Director Kash Patel from the U.S. Secret Service.
“Anyone who believes that case was worked in a bubble is naive.”
Sunday from the White House South Lawn, event planning proved successful as UFC Freedom 250 unfolded after only a minor delay. What didn’t take place was a terrorist attack, of which “prematurely announced” details from Patel of an ongoing investigation were said to have angered those leading the investigation at the Secret Service.
Following a Tuesday announcement from Patel that coincided with details about the arrest of five alleged terrorists out of a group of more than 20 supposedly plotting to attack the UFC event with “explosive-laden drones” and snipers, MS NOW correspondent Ken Dilanian reported, “Secret Service officials are furious that FBI Director Kash Patel prematurely announced on Tuesday morning the details of a sealed and ongoing criminal investigation into a plot to attack the UFC fight event this weekend with drones, according to three people familiar with the incident.”
News: Secret Service officials are furious that FBI Director Kash Patel prematurely announced on Tuesday morning the details of a sealed and ongoing criminal investigation into a plot to attack the UFC fight event this weekend with drones, according to three people familiar with…
— Ken Dilanian (@KDilanianMSNOW) June 16, 2026
“The problem with Patel’s social media announcement, the sources say, was the case had been sealed in court and roughly ten suspects had not yet been arrested and placed in custody at the time Patel made his public social media post,” added the correspondent based on his reporting and that of his colleagues Carol Leonnig, Lisa Rubin, and Marc Santia.
Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, U.S. Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn was asked for comment about the FBI’s announcement. He began, “I’ll tell you a phrase I learned early in my career in the New York field office, and that’s ‘Don’t choke on your own smoke.’ Anyone who believes that case was worked in a bubble is naive.”
“I’ll tell you the Secret Service led that investigation from the beginning,” added Quinn. “I’ll tell you that it’s ongoing. In order to maintain the integrity of the investigation and the security plan, we chose not to leak it.”
(Video Credit: U.S. Secret Service)
As was previously reported, the first suspect had been arrested in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a review of Signal chats allegedly discussing plans to attack was said to have included at least 23 users. Court documents identified the suspect as 19-year-old Tycen Proper, who was said to have spent $3,000 of “graduation money” to purchase “lots of” ammunition.
Additional arrests were made over the weekend in California, Missouri, and Nebraska as Bryan Omar Roa, Michael Alan Thomas, Daniel K. Eskridge, and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez were alleged to have “conspired to plan and execute a mass casualty event targeting U.S. officials in attendance at UFC Freedom 250…”
The Justice Department announced today charges against five men for an alleged plot to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House last Sunday.
“The FBI, our law enforcement partners and our U.S.… pic.twitter.com/nr8fKn6Pdr
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) June 16, 2026
Contrary to the reported anger, an official statement from U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran was brief and maintained decorum: “Our most important responsibility is safeguarding the President and every person under Secret Service protection. The U.S. Secret Service worked closely with the FBI throughout this investigation.”
“In the days leading up to this weekend, our special agents, mission support personnel, and technical security teams worked around the clock to identify those responsible and hold them accountable,” continued Curran. “Equally important to our protective mission is ensuring accountability through the justice system. To that end, our formal comments regarding the specifics of this case will be made through court filings.”
Protective intelligence cases are on the rise, and our teams work tirelessly behind the scenes to investigate threats, identify those responsible and ensure accountability.
Statement from Director Curran on the events of this past weekend: pic.twitter.com/voVpbJSfCW
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) June 16, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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