Concerns are growing within the FBI about Director Kash Patel’s behavior, with his colleagues alleging the agency’s Indian-origin chief engaged in heavy drinking and unexplained absences that they say affected his leadership.According to several current and former FBI officials, Patel’s behavior has raised concerns within the bureau and across parts of the US government. Some have described his tenure as erratic, pointing to incidents in which his actions caused confusion and disrupted normal operations.One such incident occurred on April 10, when Patel had difficulty logging into an internal system and thought it had been locked down. He thought he had been fired and called his assistants in a “freaking state.”
The situation sparked concern within the FBI and led to calls to the White House and members of Congress about who leads the agency. It was later discovered that the problem was a technical error.More than two dozen people, including FBI employees and others familiar with his work, told reporters that Patel was “eccentric, suspicious of others, and prone to jumping to conclusions before he had the necessary evidence,” according to a report by The Atlantic.
Several officials said heavy drinking was a recurring concern. They claimed he was visibly intoxicated on multiple occasions, including at private places in Washington and during trips to Las Vegas. Some said meetings and briefings had to be postponed due to alcohol-related late nights.On more than one occasion, members of his guard reportedly tried hard to wake him up. In one case, a request was made for “breaching equipment” after he failed to respond behind closed doors.Officials also raised concerns about his availability during critical moments. Some said they were concerned about how he would respond in the event of a major security threat. Patel’s response to the death of MAGA commentator Charlie Kirk also faced backlash. “This is what keeps me up at night,” one official said.Patel’s presence has also been called into question. Sources cited by The Atlantic say he was frequently absent from FBI headquarters, delaying decision-making.
In some cases, this has slowed investigations and frustrated agents.His handling of sensitive issues has also drawn criticism. He publicly announced that the FBI had arrested a “person of interest” in a high-profile shooting, but that person was later released as the investigation continued.Meanwhile, Patel has strong support from US President Donald Trump and some within the Republican Party administration.Patel denied the allegations. In a statement attributed to him, the FBI said: “Print it, it’s all lies. I’ll see you in court – bring your checkbook.”