Kash Patel is threatening to sue Atlantic magazine for publishing a report detailing alleged erratic behavior and management failures during his tenure. The piece, titled The FBI Director Is MIA, claimed that colleagues have grown increasingly concerned about Patel’s excessive drinking and his frequent, unexplained absences from the agency.
Patel has taken a combative stance against these “hit piece lies.” In two X posts, he directly addressed the magazine by writing, “See you and your entire entourage of false reporting in court… But do keep at it with the fake news, actual malice standard is now what some would call a legal lay up.”
The next day, he noted that he only intends to worry when the media stops writing about him. “Keep talking, it means I’m doing exactly what I should be doing. And no amount of BS you write will ever deter this FBI from making America safe again and taking down the criminals you love,” he wrote.
The man doth protest too much. Then again, his reported behavior is crazy
The original report, authored by Sarah Fitzpatrick, relies on conversations with more than two dozen individuals, including current and former FBI officials, members of Congress, and hospitality industry workers. These sources alleged that Patel has been an irregular presence at FBI headquarters and is often difficult to reach.
Perhaps more concerning are the claims regarding his personal conduct. The report alleges that Patel has been known to drink to the point of obvious intoxication in front of administration staff. It also claims that members of his security detail have had difficulty waking him on multiple occasions within the past year because he was seemingly intoxicated.
Another specific incident detailed in the report involves a technological mishap from earlier this month. According to nine people familiar with the situation, Patel struggled to log in to an internal computer system and became convinced he had been locked out.
The report describes him panicking and frantically calling aides to announce he had been fired. Two sources even characterized the event as a freak-out.
Patel’s lawyer has backed him by showcasing a formal notice that had already been sent to the Atlantic. However, Fitzpatrick remains firm in her reporting, telling Jen Psaki of MS NOW, “I stand by every word.”
She pointed out the significance of her sources coming forward, considering the bureau’s use of polygraphs. She explained, “For it to be this level of alarm, this is people genuinely concerned that America is a danger as a result of this conduct.”
The administration has stepped in to support Patel amidst the controversy. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the FBI director, claiming that he has accomplished more in 14 months than the previous administration did in four years.
This is not the first time Patel has faced public scrutiny. Recently, an older email of his was hacked. Not long before that, his use of government-owned private jets came into question. He also got into a bit of hot water after a viral video showed him chugging beer in the Team USA locker room.
Published: Apr 20, 2026 05:33 am