Kash Patel's team threatens lawsuit over bombshell report he drinks on the job

FBI Director Kash Patel's communications strategist, Erica Knight, threatened legal action against The Atlantic on Friday night, following their publication of a devastating report on Patel's alleged behavior and the potential search to replace him.

The report in question detailed claims that Patel has been frequently drunk on the job, to the point FBI officials considered ordering forcible-entry SWAT equipment in case he locked himself in his office while intoxicated, that he has been impossible to reach at times, and that he has repeatedly had nervous breakdowns over the fear he will be fired any minute.

None of that is true, wrote Knight on X.

"The Atlantic published a 'bombshell' on Director Patel tonight that every real DC reporter chased, couldn't verify, and passed on," wrote Knight. "Here's reality. Since being sworn in, Director Patel has taken a grand total of 17 days off — half as much time off as Comey and Wray — and he spends twice as much time in the office as either of them ever did."

"The so-called 'intoxication incidents' The Atlantic breathlessly reports have happened exactly ZERO times," wrote Knight, then rattling off statistics about FBI arrests and public safety under Patel's tenure. "The Atlantic's 'reporting'? Fabricated stories about 'breaching equipment' that was never requested. Intoxication claims with not a single witness willing to put their name on one. A paragraph — I'm not kidding — about the FBI Store not carrying 'intimidating enough' merchandise."

"Every serious DC reporter passed on this. Sarah Fitzpatrick and Jeffrey Goldberg printed it anyway," wrote Knight, adding, "Lawsuit is being filed."