Kash Patel’s colleagues are alarmed by what they describe as erratic behavior and excessive drinking—conduct that could cost him his job, Sarah Fitzpatrick reports.
She spoke with more than two dozen people who described Patel’s tenure as a management failure and his personal behavior as a national-security vulnerability. “They said the problems with his conduct go well beyond what has been previously known, and include both conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences,” Fitzpatrick writes. “His behavior has often alarmed officials at the FBI and Department of Justice, even as he won support from the White House for his eager participation in Trump’s effort to turn federal law enforcement against the president’s perceived political enemies.”
Several officials said that Patel’s drinking has been a recurring source of concern across the government. They said he is known to drink to the point of obvious intoxication while in the presence of White House and other administration staff. Early in his tenure, meetings and briefings had to be rescheduled for later in the day as a result of his alcohol-fueled nights, six current and former officials and others familiar with Patel’s schedule said.
On multiple occasions in the past year, members of his security detail had difficulty waking Patel because he was seemingly intoxicated, according to information supplied to Justice Department and White House officials. A request for “breaching equipment”—normally used by SWAT and hostage-rescue teams to quickly gain entry into buildings—was made last year because Patel had been unreachable behind locked doors, according to multiple people familiar with the request.
The FBI responded with a statement, attributed to Patel: “Print it, all false, I’ll see you in court – bring your checkbook.”
“Some of Patel’s colleagues at the FBI worry that his personal behavior has become a threat to public safety,” Fitzpatrick continues. “Current and former officials told me that they have long worried about what would happen in the event of a domestic terrorist attack while Patel is in office, and they said that their apprehension has increased significantly in the weeks since Trump launched his military campaign against Iran. ‘That’s what keeps me up at night,’ one official told me.”
> A request for “breaching equipment”—normally used by SWAT and hostage-rescue teams to quickly gain entry into buildings—was made last year because Patel had been unreachable behind locked doors, according to multiple people familiar with the request.
CHEVIEWER1 on
Trash Patel is still hung over from all those various sports locker room he was seen binge drinking in
1. He didn’t really want the *job* of FBI Director, but was psyched to gain the title and be a part of his hero’s administration.
2. He actually was excited to get the job, but having it has made him realize how out of his depth he is, and he’s had the self realization of how unqualified he is after being around so many smart, capable, dedicated FBI agents. He’s miserable and he’s looking for any excuse he can to shirk his responsibilities.
inxile7 on
Maybe he sees the writing on the wall. Doesn’t want to be the last one holding the most egregiously odorous bag of excrement in the history of shit or bags.
barryvm on
Don’t be silly. He’s only there because he told Trump he’ll follow orders like an obedient little henchman, so there are only two ways he’s going to lose his job. One is that Trump thinks he’s “betrayed” him. The second one is that Trump needs someone to blame and sacks him to safeguard his fragile ego. Both possibilities are increasingly likely as Trump’s government goes down in flames.
I would probably drink too, if I was in his position. There are very few good endings for fascism’s upper management. If their boss doesn’t go after them for perceived disloyalty or because he needs a scapegoat, their victims will get them after this thing is voted out or overthrown.
Vegetable_Ad5957 on
This is what he and Kegsbreath have been doing? Spending taxpayer dollars to live out their fantasies. It’s not news
fxkatt on
The Epstein Files, Charlie Kirk assassination… just for starters…no wonder he stays drunk. See no evil.
Legitimate-Wash-6336 on
He is on the new Epstein island.
WontThinkStraight on
>“They said the problems with his conduct go well beyond what has been previously known, and include both conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences,” Fitzpatrick writes.
Has anyone checked at a Waffle House? Maybe he’s been teleported there too.
jimmysprinkles92 on
Maybe he’ll emerge when the Stanley cup is awarded
IllTwo7643 on
Another bites the dust under mysterious circumstances?
dreevsa on
Fool is in hiding
Jerk182 on
Trump’s whole administration is nothing but pedophiles, alcoholics, heroin addicts, prostitutes and murderers. We are in dire need of decency.
HiDHSiknowyouwatchme on
That’s not how you spell stupid.
TheMalibu on
He’s on a bender. On tax payers dime.
keninsd on
“The FBI Director Is MIA” Aren’t we all better off for it? How can we keep him away for a very, very long time?
Bzr21 on
Trump loves firing women – and as much as Bondi & Noem had it coming – Hegseth & Patel deserve it just as much – if not more – but they’re men so they’d have to mess up 10 times worse to be fired by Trump.
curtass7 on
Lol oh no 🥱
5pinktoes on
I’m guessing the qualified, experienced and ethical candidates refused the position/administration. 45 had to fill it with someone who he can manipulate.
ANTILAMER13 on
He is hungover playing with GIJoes
M23707 on
Coachella recovery
mercurialdude on
He’s probably getting wasted with a hockey team
Moveyourbloominass on
He’s passed out in the desert from Coachella. They should start their search there.
arazamatazguy on
When he finally does get fired the stories of his incompetence will be epic.
Post_office_clerk01 on
Getting high somewhere to be sure.
Honky_Stonk_Man on
It’s because these people in power are losers. Worse, they are lazy as fuck. Most of them turn to the grift because they cant hold real jobs.
actusreus82 on
No one could have predicted this!
Exotic-Ferret-3452 on
Can’t see straight, no wonder he is lost.
Fallouttgrrl on
“Kash Patel’s colleagues are alarmed by what they describe as erratic behavior and excessive drinking—conduct that could cost him his job”
What world are you living in??
Can I move there?
Rich_Resolution_4247 on
[ Removed by Reddit ]
Oktigey on
ICE probably detained him
clowns_will_eat_me on
Is anyone actually *missing* him, though?
Chemical-Ebb6472 on
Sources stated the security detail found him out by a camper van repeatedly slurring “How much you wanna bet I could shoot this hockey puck over them mountains? Yeah… That Garden City Coach shoulda put me on the hockey team, then put me in fourth quarter, we would’ve been state champions.”
W4r1s on
Missing in action would imply he is actually doing something. Isn’t he just partying in up?
trash-juice on
Hes on a ‘bender’ with djt and putin …
Galliagamer on
He’s so incompetent it’s probably a good thing .
dogoodsilence1 on
Talk about buying regime change in the U.S. election and installing idiots in every position. U.S. is cooked
ElanMomentane on
Imagine how tempted those aides must have been to tell Patel that, yes, he had been fired…And that Trump demanded he turn in his phone and computer, then leave the country on the next plane out.
45 Comments
Kash Patel’s colleagues are alarmed by what they describe as erratic behavior and excessive drinking—conduct that could cost him his job, Sarah Fitzpatrick reports.
She spoke with more than two dozen people who described Patel’s tenure as a management failure and his personal behavior as a national-security vulnerability. “They said the problems with his conduct go well beyond what has been previously known, and include both conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences,” Fitzpatrick writes. “His behavior has often alarmed officials at the FBI and Department of Justice, even as he won support from the White House for his eager participation in Trump’s effort to turn federal law enforcement against the president’s perceived political enemies.”
Several officials said that Patel’s drinking has been a recurring source of concern across the government. They said he is known to drink to the point of obvious intoxication while in the presence of White House and other administration staff. Early in his tenure, meetings and briefings had to be rescheduled for later in the day as a result of his alcohol-fueled nights, six current and former officials and others familiar with Patel’s schedule said.
On multiple occasions in the past year, members of his security detail had difficulty waking Patel because he was seemingly intoxicated, according to information supplied to Justice Department and White House officials. A request for “breaching equipment”—normally used by SWAT and hostage-rescue teams to quickly gain entry into buildings—was made last year because Patel had been unreachable behind locked doors, according to multiple people familiar with the request.
The FBI responded with a statement, attributed to Patel: “Print it, all false, I’ll see you in court – bring your checkbook.”
“Some of Patel’s colleagues at the FBI worry that his personal behavior has become a threat to public safety,” Fitzpatrick continues. “Current and former officials told me that they have long worried about what would happen in the event of a domestic terrorist attack while Patel is in office, and they said that their apprehension has increased significantly in the weeks since Trump launched his military campaign against Iran. ‘That’s what keeps me up at night,’ one official told me.”
Read more: [https://theatln.tc/YWgFALdd](https://theatln.tc/YWgFALdd)
Maybe he’s walking the Appalachian trail.
Everyone knew and put him there anyway
> A request for “breaching equipment”—normally used by SWAT and hostage-rescue teams to quickly gain entry into buildings—was made last year because Patel had been unreachable behind locked doors, according to multiple people familiar with the request.
Trash Patel is still hung over from all those various sports locker room he was seen binge drinking in
Gift link https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/04/kash-patel-fbi-director-drinking-absences/686839/?gift=1ga2TvL-DbuHDQIcYF7oRxNmK3jnX3wl-J-XKJbu_nU&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
It’s either…
1. He didn’t really want the *job* of FBI Director, but was psyched to gain the title and be a part of his hero’s administration.
2. He actually was excited to get the job, but having it has made him realize how out of his depth he is, and he’s had the self realization of how unqualified he is after being around so many smart, capable, dedicated FBI agents. He’s miserable and he’s looking for any excuse he can to shirk his responsibilities.
Maybe he sees the writing on the wall. Doesn’t want to be the last one holding the most egregiously odorous bag of excrement in the history of shit or bags.
Don’t be silly. He’s only there because he told Trump he’ll follow orders like an obedient little henchman, so there are only two ways he’s going to lose his job. One is that Trump thinks he’s “betrayed” him. The second one is that Trump needs someone to blame and sacks him to safeguard his fragile ego. Both possibilities are increasingly likely as Trump’s government goes down in flames.
I would probably drink too, if I was in his position. There are very few good endings for fascism’s upper management. If their boss doesn’t go after them for perceived disloyalty or because he needs a scapegoat, their victims will get them after this thing is voted out or overthrown.
This is what he and Kegsbreath have been doing? Spending taxpayer dollars to live out their fantasies. It’s not news
The Epstein Files, Charlie Kirk assassination… just for starters…no wonder he stays drunk. See no evil.
He is on the new Epstein island.
>“They said the problems with his conduct go well beyond what has been previously known, and include both conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences,” Fitzpatrick writes.
Has anyone checked at a Waffle House? Maybe he’s been teleported there too.
Maybe he’ll emerge when the Stanley cup is awarded
Another bites the dust under mysterious circumstances?
Fool is in hiding
Trump’s whole administration is nothing but pedophiles, alcoholics, heroin addicts, prostitutes and murderers. We are in dire need of decency.
That’s not how you spell stupid.
He’s on a bender. On tax payers dime.
“The FBI Director Is MIA” Aren’t we all better off for it? How can we keep him away for a very, very long time?
Trump loves firing women – and as much as Bondi & Noem had it coming – Hegseth & Patel deserve it just as much – if not more – but they’re men so they’d have to mess up 10 times worse to be fired by Trump.
Lol oh no 🥱
I’m guessing the qualified, experienced and ethical candidates refused the position/administration. 45 had to fill it with someone who he can manipulate.
He is hungover playing with GIJoes
Coachella recovery
He’s probably getting wasted with a hockey team
He’s passed out in the desert from Coachella. They should start their search there.
When he finally does get fired the stories of his incompetence will be epic.
Getting high somewhere to be sure.
It’s because these people in power are losers. Worse, they are lazy as fuck. Most of them turn to the grift because they cant hold real jobs.
No one could have predicted this!
Can’t see straight, no wonder he is lost.
“Kash Patel’s colleagues are alarmed by what they describe as erratic behavior and excessive drinking—conduct that could cost him his job”
What world are you living in??
Can I move there?
[ Removed by Reddit ]
ICE probably detained him
Is anyone actually *missing* him, though?
Sources stated the security detail found him out by a camper van repeatedly slurring “How much you wanna bet I could shoot this hockey puck over them mountains? Yeah… That Garden City Coach shoulda put me on the hockey team, then put me in fourth quarter, we would’ve been state champions.”
Missing in action would imply he is actually doing something. Isn’t he just partying in up?
Hes on a ‘bender’ with djt and putin …
He’s so incompetent it’s probably a good thing .
Talk about buying regime change in the U.S. election and installing idiots in every position. U.S. is cooked
Imagine how tempted those aides must have been to tell Patel that, yes, he had been fired…And that Trump demanded he turn in his phone and computer, then leave the country on the next plane out.
‘Ole Bug Eyez is freaking out? Can’t be!
He sold his soul and is drinking to fill it.
Typical DUI hire