director of the fbi Kashi Patel He is facing scrutiny after a US court dismissed one of his defamation lawsuits. Meanwhile, another report accused him of “drinking behavior.”
The dismissed lawsuit stemmed from remarks by a former FBI assistant director who claimed that Patel was seen at nightclubs more often than at the FBI’s Washington, D.C., headquarters. The comment referred to the seventh floor of the Hoover Building, where FBI leadership is located.
In addition, Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic Monthly, accusing its recent article of being false and a “malicious hit article.”
Report raises concerns about conduct
The Atlantic report, written by Sarah Fitzpatrick, cited multiple unnamed sources who claimed that alcoholism and irregular working patterns.
Six people claimed that meetings and briefings involving Patel were sometimes rescheduled late into the night, the publication reported. The report also said that Patel was seen drinking heavily at private venues in Washington and Las Vegas.
The report further states that Patel’s security staff had difficulty reaching him “on multiple occasions,” including at least once when someone considered forcing entry into the room when he became unresponsive.
Officials quoted anonymously in the report said they were concerned about “obvious intoxication” and unexplained absences. One official reportedly said the situation raised concerns about preparedness during the national emergency, adding that it “keeps me up at night.”
political backlash
The accusations sparked a political reaction, with Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu calling for Patel to be removed.
“He should not be FBI director,” Liu said, adding that Patel “appears to be an alcoholic” and should “seek help and treatment.”
His remarks also mentioned viral video Patel celebrated with members of the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team.
White House backs Patel
The White House defended Patel’s position despite the backlash.
Also read: Kash Patel sues The Atlantic for $250 million: 5 things to know about the 19-page lawsuit
The Atlantic quoted officials as saying he was a key figure on Donald Trump’s policing team and credited him with contributing to lower crime rates.
Patel has denied the accusations and continues to challenge media reports through legal action.
