Kash Patel is threatening to take the Atlantic to court over a profile that depicts the FBI director as a heavy drinker gripped by fear of being fired—claims that he and the bureau emphatically deny, per the Independent. The article, published Friday, describes Patel as so anxious about his job security that a computer glitch in April allegedly triggered a “freak-out” in which he frantically called aides, fearing he was about to be dismissed.
The most serious allegations, however, center on Patel’s alleged alcohol use. Citing more than two dozen people, including current and former FBI and administration officials, the Atlantic reports that Patel has repeatedly appeared visibly drunk at clubs in Washington, DC, and Las Vegas, prompting security concerns and questions about whether he could be vulnerable to pressure or blackmail. The story says some of Patel’s meetings were pushed later in the day to accommodate his late-night drinking, and that agents once sought emergency “breaching equipment” typically used in SWAT operations after being unable to rouse him.
Sources in the article also suggest colleagues have wondered whether alcohol played a role in certain missteps, including early incorrect info regarding the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The report further claims Patel drew a rebuke from former President Trump, a teetotaler, after being seen chugging beer with members of the US Olympic men’s hockey team. Patel’s lawyer calls the reporting “categorically false.”
In posts on X, Patel vowed to sue the Atlantic and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick, accusing them of “actual malice” and sharing an email from an FBI spokesperson calling the story “completely false at a nearly 100% clip.” That rep also complained that the bureau had only had about two hours to respond to the magazine. An adviser to Patel argued that reputable reporters had previously declined to publish similar claims because they couldn’t verify them. Fitzpatrick, for her part, says she stands by the story and notes that the volume of sourcing from inside an agency typically resistant to leaks reflects serious internal concern about Patel’s leadership.
