'I've never been intoxicated on the job': Kash Patel defends himself amid drinking allegations

FBI Director Kash Patel has publicly defended himself against allegations that he drinks on the job, which interferes with his duties. The development comes after The Atlantic reported about Patel's drinking habits, prompting the FBI chief to file a defamation lawsuit against the outlet.

“I’ve never been intoxicated on the job. This FBI director has been on the job twice as many days as every director before me," Patel said on Tuesday in front of a room full of reporters.

Patel was speaking with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, whom he reports to now. Blanche also slammed Atlantic's, which claimed that people had raised concerns with senior leaders about the FBI director.

Blanche, however, said that he had not read the news report, adding that it contained “blatantly false” information.

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“My concerns are completely around the anonymous reporting that comes forth constantly,” Blanche said about the article.

Patel sues The Atlantic

Days after The Atlantic published an article alleging Patel had a drinking problem that could pose a threat to national security, the FBI Director filed a defamation lawsuit against the magazine and its reporter, Sarah Fitzpatrick.

The story, originally published under the headline ‘Kash Patel’s Erratic Behavior Could Cost Him His Job’, cited more than two dozen anonymous sources who expressed concern over Patel’s alleged “conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences,” which they said had “alarmed officials at the FBI and the Department of Justice.”

The article, later retitled ‘The FBI Director Is MIA’ in its online version by The Atlantic, reported that during Patel’s tenure, early FBI meetings were at times rescheduled due to what sources described as “alcohol-fueled nights,” and that he was “often away or unreachable,” resulting in delays to time-sensitive investigative decisions.

“The Atlantic’s story is a lie,” Reuters quoted Patel as saying in an interview.

“They were given the truth before they published, and they chose to print falsehoods anyway,” he added.

Typos in lawsuit

Patel's defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic contains multiple typos and copy‑editing errors, including misspelt words and formatting inconsistencies.

Patel’s lawsuit seeks at least $250 million in damages, repeatedly stressing accuracy, fact-checking, and editorial rigour, and contends that The Atlantic acted with "actual malice."

While minor typographical errors in the complaint do not weaken its legal arguments, they are notable in a filing focused on claims of journalistic negligence.