The Atlantic article, published last week, claimed that Patel had engaged in excessive drinking and erratic behavior, leading to concerns among colleagues. Patel's legal team announced the lawsuit on Monday, calling the allegations 'false and defamatory.' In a statement, Patel said, 'I have never been intoxicated on the job.' The lawsuit seeks $250 million in damages.
House Democrats, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, are investigating the allegations and have asked Patel to submit to an alcohol screening test. The House Judiciary Committee Democrats said the test would help determine whether Patel is fit to lead the FBI. Patel has not publicly responded to the request.
I have never been intoxicated on the job.
Patel has also claimed that arrests are imminent in a conspiracy tied to the 2020 election, alleging it was rigged for Joe Biden. He has not provided evidence for this claim. Separately, a Texas court dismissed a defamation lawsuit Patel filed against former FBI official Frank Figliuzzi for saying Patel spent more time in nightclubs than at the office. U.S. District Court Judge George Hanks Jr ruled that Figliuzzi's statement was opinion, not fact.
Patel has fired at least 10 FBI employees linked to the investigation into classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, according to reports. The FBI fired about a dozen people in total over two days, a rough estimate suggests. All of the FBI agents and analysts fired on Wednesday were involved with the classified documents case, according to research. Patel did not provide evidence of wrongdoing by the staff who were terminated. The FBI Agents Association condemned the firings, saying they violate due process rights and weaken the Bureau. In a statement, the association said, 'The FBI Agents Association condemns the termination of FBI employees without due process. These actions undermine the integrity of the Bureau and the rule of law.'
President Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel are delivering on their promise to keep our communities safe. Under their leadership, crime rates are dropping across the country.
A key incident involves Patel's alleged lockout from FBI computer systems. The Atlantic article alleged that Patel misinterpreted a technical computer lockout as being fired and panicked. Patel denied being locked out, calling it an 'absolute lie.' However, his lawsuit acknowledges he was temporarily locked out of the FBI system, a contradiction that undermines his credibility.
White House officials are reportedly discussing potential successors for Patel following The Atlantic report, according to anonymous sources. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised Patel's leadership, crediting him and President Trump for a drop in crime rates. 'President Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel are delivering on their promise to keep our communities safe. Under their leadership, crime rates are dropping across the country,' Leavitt said.
That is an absolute lie.
The FBI investigated New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson for alleged stalking after she published an article about Patel using bureau personnel for his girlfriend's security detail, according to The New York Times. Separately, the FBI subpoenaed records of phone calls made by Patel and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles when they were private citizens as part of special counsel Jack Smith's probe into Trump, Reuters reported. Patel alleged that the FBI secretly subpoenaed his phone records using flimsy pretexts and burying the process in prohibited case files to evade oversight. Reuters did not independently verify Patel's claims. Wiles' records were reviewed as part of the documents case, a source familiar with the matter said. CBS News was unable to verify whether Patel's records were subpoenaed. In the 2020 election case, known as Arctic Frost, Patel's records were not subpoenaed, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Smith's investigations led to the first federal criminal indictments against a former president. The classified document charges were dismissed by a federal judge in Florida in mid-2024 because Smith was unlawfully appointed. Smith dropped the 2020 election charges after Trump won the 2024 election. The Justice Department fired prosecutors who worked on Smith's team. The FBI has also fired agents involved in the Arctic Frost election investigation.
The FBI Agents Association condemns the termination of FBI employees without due process. These actions undermine the integrity of the Bureau and the rule of law.