Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel said he will be suing The Atlantic magazine for defamation on Monday in relation to their recent article on him, stating he is an excessive drinker. 

Defamation of Character

The Atlantic reported that multiple current and former federal government officials have said that Patel is a frequent drinker and is known to drink beyond his limit. They worry that his behavior could put the country in danger, especially with the lingering potential of war with Iran.

Jesse Binnall, Patel’s attorney, wrote a letter to The Atlantic warning them that several pieces of information reported in the article were false. However, The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, said, “We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel.”

The Atlantic

The article published on Friday, April 17, 2026, on The Atlantic stems from an incident that occurred at Kash Patel’s place of work the Friday before. The outlet reported that Patel was unable to log into an internal computer system, and without further conviction, he panicked, calling aides and allies, telling them the White House fired him. 

Multiple sources confirmed these events and described his behavior as a “Freak-out.” The emotional incident spread across the 38,000-person agency and reached some who were relieved that Patel may have been fired from his position. The chatter prompted many calls to the White House asking who was now overseeing the FBI’s operations.

Sources Confirm Statements

The article contained more than two dozen sources citing Patel’s behavior. These sources reported that he frequently drinks to the point of conspicuous intoxication, and his security detail has had issues waking him due to his inebriation.

The Atlantic reported on one instance where a request for “breaching equipment” was made because Patel was behind a locked door, and no one was able to get in contact with him. Meetings have also had to be rescheduled to later in the day because of his drinking habits. 

Kash Patel Threatens Lawsuit

Patel said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” he plans to sue The Atlantic for defamation, filing the lawsuit Monday. “We are not going to take this lying down,” he said. “You want to attack my character? Come at me, bring it on. I’ll see you in court.”

Binnall also expressed their intentions on filing a lawsuit on Friday through X, saying “See you in court,” and publishing the warning letter his firm sent to The Atlantic before they published the “hit piece.”

″[S]hould The Atlantic choose to publish this demonstrably false and defamatory article, Director Patel will have no choice but to take swift legal action to uphold his reputation,” the signed letter by lawyers Binnall and Jared Roberts said.

Chug Chug Chug

Binnall and Patel argue that the claims made in the article are false, discrediting their multiple sources. But the public has also seen evidence of the FBI director’s abuse of alcohol, such as when the Men’s USA Hockey Team won a gold medal at the 2026 Olympic Games.

During a time of crisis in Mexico that was caused in part by a US-aided military raid, Patel was recorded chugging beer, chanting, and cursing in the men’s locker room after an astonishing victory. 

The video went viral, and split the agency in half, some supportive of his right to time off, and others embarrassed by his lack of professionalism and situational awareness.

Seeking Millions in Damages

In the lawsuit filed on April 20, 2026, Patel’s attorneys allege that The Atlantic’s story is a  “sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece,” and the director is seeking $250 million in damages. 

The lawsuit claims that Patel does not drink to an excess and he is “at FBI headquarters nearly every single day, and when he is not at headquarters, he is visiting field offices — which he has done more frequently than any of his predecessors, a fact independently verifiable through his public social media account that Defendants were specifically directed to review.”