FBI Director Kash Patel has grown ‘deeply paranoid’ over being fired and has been drinking heavily, raising concerns among officials in Washington.
The Atlantic magazine published a report Friday revealing a series of troubling incidents and allegations involving Patel, who has since threatened legal action, calling the claims ‘false reporting.’
It details claims that Patel’s alleged excessive drinking meant that members of his security team were unable to rouse him in time for meetings on several occasions.
At one point, staffers allegedly requested ‘breaching equipment’ used in SWAT raids to try and break down his door, according to the Atlantic.
Patel is known to enjoy alcohol and has frequently appeared visibly intoxicated at clubs in Washington and in his home city of Las Vegas.
He reportedly also earned the president’s ire after he was filmed chugging beer with the US men’s hockey team following their Olympic victory.
But colleagues reportedly say his conduct has become erratic amid an increased paranoia he is set to be replaced.
Just last week, Patel allegedly spiraled into a nervous breakdown after mistakenly believing he had been fired due to a technical issue that left him locked out of a system.
The Atlantic magazine published a report Friday alleging that officials are alarmed over FBI Director Kash Patel’s alleged excessive drinking
The report claims that Patel has grown ‘deeply paranoid’ over being fired by the Trump administration
Fearing he was about to be fired by the Trump administration, he allegedly called aides and allies in panic – a reaction that, according to the Atlantic’s report, quickly reached the White House.
Officials told the outlet they are increasingly alarmed about whether the FBI could respond to a national crisis like a terror attack with Patel at the helm.
‘That’s what keeps me up at night,’ an unnamed official told the publication.
Patel has staunchly denied the Atlantic’s claims and threatened to sue the outlet and its reporter, Sarah Fitzpatrick.
In a post on X, Patel shared a screenshot of an email from FBI communications official Benjamin Williamson to Fitzpatrick, which described the article as ‘completely false and nearly 100 percent clip.’
The email read: ‘Top to bottom, this is one of the most absurd things I’ve ever read. Completely false and nearly 100% clip. And with a two hour deadline.’
‘See you and your entire entourage of false reporting in court,’ Patel captioned his Friday post.
‘But do keep at it with the fake news, actual malice standard is now what some would call a legal lay up,’ he added.
