FBI Director Kash Patel is pushing back hard against a report alleging he drinks heavily and has become unreachable during critical moments, vowing legal action against the publication that broke the story.
The Atlantic published an investigation Friday detailing claims from two dozen current and former officials that Patel engages in excessive drinking at Washington DC and Las Vegas venues, often on weekends. According to the report, his nights out have forced staff to reschedule meetings and briefings, and there have been instances when security personnel struggled to reach him.
Patel's response was swift and combative. "Print it, all false, I'll see you in court, bring your checkbook," he told the Atlantic, signaling his intention to sue over the allegations.
The drinking accusations add to a growing list of controversies surrounding Patel's leadership of the nation's top federal law enforcement agency. He has faced public criticism for prematurely announcing on social media that the FBI tracked suspects in the murder of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and in a shooting at Brown University. He also drew scrutiny for using a government jet to watch his girlfriend sing the national anthem at a wrestling match and for flying to Milan on an FBI aircraft to watch the US men's hockey team in competition finals, after which he drank beer with players in the locker room following their victory.
The Atlantic report noted that Patel expressed concern about being fired, citing conversations with current and former government officials. The report also detailed a particularly striking incident from last year when Patel was behind locked doors and his security detail could not reach him, prompting a request for breaching equipment typically used by SWAT and hostage-rescue teams.
Officials quoted in the story expressed alarm that Patel's behavior posed a threat to public safety, particularly given the risks of a domestic terrorist attack requiring immediate leadership response. One FBI official told the Atlantic, "We're all just waiting for the word" that Patel has been fired.
The White House has remained supportive despite the mounting criticism. Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told the Atlantic that crime has dropped to its lowest level in more than 100 years under the current administration and that "Director Patel remains a critical player on the administration's law and order team."
Patel's tenure has already drawn scrutiny from within the FBI itself. A group of retired and active agents released a report last year questioning his qualifications, stating he was "in over his head" and "lacks the requisite knowledge or deep understanding of all the FBI's unique and complex investigative and intelligence programs."
Author James Rodriguez: "A sitting FBI director threatening to sue over questions about his fitness for the job is not a good look for an agency built on credibility and accountability."
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