FBI Director Kash Patel Accused of Drinking on the Job

Investigative report alleges Patel has been intoxicated during sensitive national security briefings

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:22pm

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A highly stylized, fragmented painting depicting a government building or political symbol in shades of navy, gray, and red, conveying a sense of disarray and dysfunction.Allegations of the FBI Director drinking on the job raise concerns about the stability of the nation's top law enforcement agency.Washington Today

A new investigative report from The Atlantic claims that FBI Director Kash Patel has been drinking to apparent intoxication while on the job, with sources describing incidents where his security detail had trouble waking him due to suspected drunkenness. The report cites over two dozen current and former FBI officials as sources, and states that the White House and Department of Justice did not dispute the specifics when given the allegations prior to publication.

Why it matters

The FBI Director is responsible for responding to national security emergencies and making critical decisions that impact public safety and national interests. If the director is impaired by alcohol, it could have serious consequences, especially given the current geopolitical tensions and cybersecurity threats facing the country. The public needs to have trust in the leadership of the FBI, and allegations of drinking on the job undermine that trust.

The details

According to the report, Patel has been drinking to apparent intoxication in private clubs in Washington D.C. and Las Vegas. This has resulted in morning briefings being pushed back due to Patel's condition from the night before. On multiple occasions in the last year, members of Patel's security detail have had trouble waking him because he was seemingly drunk. On one night, the detail even requested breaching equipment, which is typically used by SWAT teams to break down fortified doors in hostage situations, because Patel was unreachable behind locked doors.

  • In the last year, Patel's security detail has had trouble waking him due to suspected drunkenness on multiple occasions.
  • On one night last year, Patel's security detail requested breaching equipment typically used by SWAT teams to break down doors, because Patel was unreachable behind locked doors.

The players

Kash Patel

The current Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Sarah Fitzpatrick

The Columbia-trained investigative journalist who authored the report in The Atlantic.

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What they’re saying

“Patel denies it all. He has threatened to sue. His personal lawyer sent a three page letter before publication. His communications person posted on social media the incidents happened zero times. The Atlantic published anyway. Fitzpatrick has not walked back a single word. She stands behind every sentence.”

— Mitch Jackson, Columnist

What’s next

If Patel files a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic, it would force him to put his conduct under oath and allow the publication to obtain discovery, including depositions of his security detail and access to his calendar and communications.

The takeaway

The allegations against the FBI Director, if true, represent a serious breach of public trust and a potential threat to national security. The public deserves answers, and their elected representatives should demand accountability to ensure the FBI is being led by someone fit to handle the immense responsibilities of the role.