politics
April 18, 2026
FBI's Kash Patel denies excess drinking amid officials' US security concerns
Agency director threatens to sue Atlantic for report citing allegations from two dozen current and former colleagues
TL;DR
- FBI Director Kash Patel denies allegations of excessive drinking and being unreachable.
- Patel has threatened to sue The Atlantic over a report detailing these claims.
- The report cites two dozen current and former officials regarding Patel's behavior.
- Allegations include difficulty waking Patel and concerns about his ability to lead the FBI.
- Patel has dismissed the report as "fake news" and "lies" on social media.
- Previous criticisms of Patel include premature announcements on social media and using government jets for personal reasons.
- A group of FBI agents previously stated Patel was "in over his head."
- White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt defended Patel, attributing crime reduction to the administration.
- Officials expressed worry that Patel's behavior poses a threat to public safety.