Kash Patel vows to sue over Atlantic article claiming alcohol abuse

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel said Sunday that he is suing The Atlantic magazine over a recent article reporting that he frequently drinks alcohol to excess.

Patel said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” that he would file a defamation lawsuit on Monday.

“We will not give up on this,” Patel said. “You want to attack my character? Come at me, come on. See you in court.”

When asked if he planned to sue the magazine, Patel said: “[A]It’s definitely coming tomorrow.”

“We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel,” Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, told CNBC.

Friday magazine published a detailed article It cites more than two dozen sources who make bombshell claims about Patel’s behavior. Sources told the magazine that Patel often drank to the point of inebriation and that security guards sometimes had difficulty waking him up due to his inebriation.

According to The Atlantic, a request was once made for “breach equipment” because Patel could not be reached behind locked doors. The magazine also reported that meetings had to be postponed until later in the day due to his drinking early in his term.

Current and former officials who spoke to The Atlantic said they fear Patel’s behavior could endanger the country, especially at a time when the United States is at war with Iran, a leading sponsor of terrorism.

Patel’s lawyer Jesse Binnall a letter In a letter sent to The Atlantic, X said he had informed the magazine that parts of its reporting were inaccurate. Binnall asked the magazine not to publish allegations that Patel drank excessively at D.C. club Ned’s and The Poodle Room in Las Vegas; details about the security team’s failure to wake him up, along with other details from the story alleging his behavior threatened public safety.

“[S]If The Atlantic chooses to publish this clearly false and defamatory article, Director Patel will have no choice but to take swift legal action to protect his reputation,” the letter, signed by attorneys Binnall and Jared Roberts, said.

The Atlantic first reported that the administration used the messaging app Signal to discuss classified information.

Patel is a longtime Trump loyalist who was confirmed as FBI director last year over the objections of all Democrats and two Republicans who warned about his lack of experience and previous controversial statements.

Patel has been making headlines lately I drink beer After Team USA won the gold medal in ice hockey at the 2026 Olympic Games.