FBI Director Kash Patel arrives at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on March 4, 2026.
Chip Somodevilla | getty images
Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel said Sunday that he is suing The Atlantic magazine over a recent article that reported he frequently drank alcohol to excess.
Patel said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” that he would bring the defamation suit on Monday.
“We will not tolerate this,” Patel said. “You want to attack my character? Come to me, bring it. I will see you in court.”
Asked if he planned to sue the magazine, Patel said, “(A)bsolutely, it’s coming tomorrow.”
“We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel,” Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, said in a statement to CNBC.
magazine on friday published a detailed article Explosive claims were made about Patel’s behavior, citing more than two dozen sources. Sources told the magazine that Patel often drank alcohol to the point of intoxication and that his security personnel sometimes had difficulty waking him up due to his drunken state.
In one instance, The Atlantic reported, a request for “breach equipment” was made because Patel was not accessible behind closed doors. The magazine also reported that, early in his tenure, meetings had to be rescheduled for later in the day due to his drinking.
Current and former officials told The Atlantic they are concerned that Patel’s behavior puts the country at risk, especially as the US is waging war with Iran – a major state sponsor of terror.
Patel’s lawyer, Jesse Binnall, in a letter The Atlantic, posted to X, said he had put the magazine on notice that several parts of its reporting were false. Binnall asked the magazine not to publish claims that Patel drank excessively at the D.C. club Ned’s and The Poodle Room in Las Vegas, details about his security detail being unable to wake him up, and claims that his conduct threatened public safety, among other details in the story.
“Should The Atlantic choose to publish this patently false and defamatory article, Director Patel will have no choice but to take prompt legal action to preserve his reputation,” the letter, signed by attorneys Binnall and Jared Roberts, said.
The Atlantic first reported on the administration’s use of the messaging app Signal to discuss classified information.
Patel is a longtime Trump loyalist who was confirmed as FBI director last year over the objection of all Democrats and two Republicans, who warned about his lack of experience and prior controversial statements.
Patel made headlines recently drinking beer After Team USA wins the gold medal in ice hockey at the 2026 Olympic Games.
