Patel dodged the specific question about location data, but

It's been three years since an FBI director admitted to purchasing the location data of Americans, potentially in violation of the Constitution. Here we go again.

FBI Director Kash Patel told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Wednesday that the FBI uses all the tools at its disposal to accomplish its mission – and that includes commercially available information from data brokers. 

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) cited a statement from previous FBI director Christopher Wray under President Joe Biden, in which Wray promised, "To my knowledge, we do not currently purchase commercial database information that includes location data dervied from internet advertising." Wyden then asked Patel, "Is that the case still, and if so, can you commit this morning to not buying Americans' location data?"

Patel dodged the specific question about location data, but admitted, "We do purchase commercially available information that's consistent with the Constitution and the laws ...