The Atlantic's explosive report, citing anonymous sources, described episodes of excessive drinking, unexplained absences, and erratic behavior by Patel. In response, Patel filed a defamation lawsuit seeking $250 million in damages, calling the claims false. He stated in a press conference that he has never been intoxicated on the job and that the allegations are fabricated.
House Democrats, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, have launched an investigation into Patel's alleged alcohol abuse and have requested that he submit to an alcohol screening test. The request, reported by multiple media outlets, adds political pressure on Patel as he faces scrutiny over his conduct. It remains unclear whether Patel will comply with the screening demand. Meanwhile, White House officials are reportedly discussing potential successors for Patel following The Atlantic report, according to anonymous sources. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised Patel's leadership and credited him with a drop in crime rates, signaling continued support from the administration.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised Patel's leadership and credited him with a drop in crime rates.
Patel has fired at least 10 FBI employees who were linked to the investigation into classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, according to multiple reports. The firings, which occurred over two days, targeted agents and analysts involved in former Special Counsel Jack Smith's probe into President Trump's retention of classified records. Research indicates that the total number of firings may be about a dozen, including some involved in the separate Arctic Frost election investigation. Patel's actions have been seen as retaliation against those who worked on investigations related to Trump. The FBI has also fired agents involved in the Arctic Frost election investigation, according to sources.
Patel has alleged that the FBI secretly subpoenaed his phone records and those of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles as part of Smith's classified documents investigation. He claimed the subpoenas were issued "using flimsy pretexts and burying the entire process in prohibited case files designed to evade all oversight." However, Reuters reported that it could not independently verify Patel's claims, and he did not provide evidence of wrongdoing by the terminated staff. CBS News confirmed with a source familiar that Wiles' records were reviewed, but could not verify whether Patel's were. In the Arctic Frost election case, Patel's records were not subpoenaed, according to the same source. Patel also got into a heated exchange with NBC News reporter Ryan Reilly over claims that he was locked out of a computer system and feared being fired. Patel denied being locked out, calling the claim an "absolute lie."
The FBI Agents Association stated: 'These actions weaken the Bureau by stripping away critical expertise and destabilizing the workforce, undermining trust in leadership and jeopardizing the Bureau's ability to meet its recruitment goals—ultimately putting the nation at greater risk.'
The legal backdrop involves Special Counsel Jack Smith's dual investigations into Trump, which led to the first federal criminal indictments against a former president in U.S. history. The classified document charges were dismissed by a federal judge in Florida in mid-2024 on the grounds that Smith was unlawfully appointed. Smith dropped the 2020 election charges after Trump won the 2024 race. The Justice Department has also fired a group of prosecutors who worked on Smith's team.
The FBI Agents Association condemned the firings, stating they violate FBI employees' due process rights. In a statement, the association said: "These actions weaken the Bureau by stripping away critical expertise and destabilizing the workforce, undermining trust in leadership and jeopardizing the Bureau's ability to meet its recruitment goals—ultimately putting the nation at greater risk." The association's criticism highlights concerns about national security risks from the loss of experienced personnel.
Patel's defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic is not his first legal action. A previous defamation lawsuit he filed against former FBI official Frank Figliuzzi was dismissed by a Texas court, which ruled that the statement in question was rhetorical hyperbole. Patel has also claimed that arrests are imminent in a conspiracy related to the 2020 election, stating he has evidence backing President Trump's claims of a stolen election. These claims have not been substantiated.
In a separate development, the FBI investigated New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson for alleged stalking after she published an article about Patel's use of bureau personnel for his girlfriend's security detail, according to The New York Times.