Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel testifies during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats in the Hart Senate Office Building on March 18, 2026. —Win McNamee/Getty ImagesFBI Director Kash Patel has vehemently denied—and threatened a lawsuit over—a new report from The Atlantic this week, which alleges excessive drinking and unexplained absences during his tenure as bureau chief. In one post on X, Patel told the outlet and author of the report: “See you and your entire entourage of false reporting in court,” calling the piece a “legal layup.”“Memo to the fake news – the only time I’ll ever actually be concerned about the hit piece lies you write about me will be when you stop,” Patel added in another post on X Saturday morning. “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.”The article, published Friday evening, cites more than two dozen people, including unnamed current and former FBI officials, alleging several episodes described as “freak-outs” from the 46-year-old former public defender. These allegations of erratic behavior and excessive drinking are indicative of what they describe as poor and even absent leadership of the agency, which has about 38,000 employees. Several officials cited in the piece say that Patel is known for “obvious intoxication” at private clubs in Washington and in Las Vegas, forcing his staff to move early morning meetings to…
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