Kamal Ghorui
Concerns are growing inside the FBI over Director Kash Patel’s conduct, with colleagues alleging that the Indian-origin agency head has engaged in heavy drinking and unexplained absences that they say have affected his leadership.According to multiple current and former officials in FBI, Patel’s behaviour has raised alarm within the bureau and across parts of the US government. Some have described his tenure as erratic, pointing to incidents where his actions caused confusion and disrupted normal operations.One such episode took place on April 10, when Patel struggled to log into an internal system and believed he had been locked out. He thought he was fired and contacted aides in a “freak-out”. The situation caused concern within the FBI and prompted calls to the White House and members of Congress about who was leading the agency. The issue was later found to be a technical error.More than two dozen people, including FBI staff and others familiar with his work, told reporters that Patel has been “erratic, suspicious of others, and prone to jumping to conclusions before he has necessary evidence,” according to a report cited by the Atlantic. Several officials said his drinking has been a recurring concern. They alleged that he has been visibly intoxicated on multiple occasions, including at private venues in Washington and during trips to Las Vegas. Some said meetings and briefings had to be delayed because of late nights linked to alcohol.On more than one occasion, members of his security detail reportedly struggled to wake him. In one instance, a request was made for “breaching equipment” after he failed to respond from behind locked doors.Officials have also raised concerns about his availability during critical moments. Some said they worry about how he would respond in the event of a major security threat. Patel’s response to MAGA commentator Charlie Kirk’s death had also faced backlash. “That’s what keeps me up at night,” one official said.Patel’s attendance has also been questioned. Sources cited by the Atlantic say he has often been absent from FBI headquarters, leading to delays in decision-making. In some cases, this slowed down investigations and frustrated agents.His handling of sensitive cases has also drawn criticism. He publicly announced that the FBI had detained a “person of interest” in a high-profile shooting, but the individual was later released as the investigation continued.At the same time, Patel has strong backing from US President Donald Trump and some within the GOP administration.Patel has denied the allegations. In a statement attributed to him, the FBI said: “Print it, all false, I’ll see you in court—bring your checkbook.”
