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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKash Patel advisor Erica Knight says a "lawsuit is being filed" over The Atlantic's article about KP's drinking
That would be this guy:

@kenwhite.bsky.social
To be fair if I were Kash Patel I would also drink an enormous amount
7:16 PM · Apr 17, 2026
To be fair if I were Kash Patel I would also drink an enormous amount
— Strait of Popehat Or Iran Or Whatever (@kenwhite.bsky.social) 2026-04-17T23:16:21.236Z
Reposted by Strait of Popehat Or Iran Or Whatever
https://bsky.app/profile/kenwhite.bsky.social
@annabower.bsky.social
Kash Patel advisor Erica Knight says a lawsuit is being filed over The Atlantics article alleging that the FBI directors drinking has been a recurring source of concern across the government.
Patel retweeted the post.
t7 FBI Director Kash Patel reposted
Erica Knight @
_EricaKnight
X.com
The Atlantic published a "bombshell" on Director Patel tonight that every real DC reporter chased, couldn't verify, and passed on.
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. Under his tenure:
67,000 arrests nationwide. Violent crime arrests up 112%. Murder rate down 20%. 1,800 criminal gangs dismantled. 2,200+ kilos of fentanyl seized
enough to kill 178 million Americans. 300 human traffickers arrested. 6,200+ missing children recovered. 1,700 online predators arrested a 490% increase. 8 of the Top Ten Most Wanted captured, double the previous four years combined. 1,000+ agents redeployed from DC bureaucracy back to field offices chasing
ALT
112%. Murder rate down 20%. 1,800 criminal gangs dismantled. 2,200+ kilos of fentanyl seized
enough to kill 178 million Americans. 300 human traffickers arrested. 6,200+ missing children recovered. 1,700 online predators arrested a 490% increase. 8 of the Top Ten Most Wanted captured, double the previous four years combined. 1,000+ agents redeployed from DC bureaucracy back to field offices chasing criminals.
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.
Lawsuit is being filed.
7:13 PM 4/17/26 6.4K Views
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Anna Bower
@annabower.bsky.social
· 12h
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Patels drinking has been a recurring source of concern across the government. They said that he is known to drink to the point of obvious intoxication .On multiple occasions in the past year, members of his security detail had difficulty waking Patel because he was seemingly intoxicated
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The Atlantic
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POLITICS
The FBI Director Is MIA
Kash Patel has alarmed colleagues with episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences.
By Sarah Fitzpatrick
Michael M. Santiago / Getty
APRIL 17, 2026, 6:20 PM ET
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7:33 PM · Apr 17, 2026
Kash Patel advisor Erica Knight says a âlawsuit is being filedâ over The Atlanticâs article alleging that the FBI directorâs drinking has been âa recurring source of concern across the government.â
— Anna Bower (@annabower.bsky.social) 2026-04-17T23:32:59.216Z
Patel retweeted the post.
Chasstev365
(7,929 posts)the nelm
(278 posts)Botany
(77,533 posts)Aka bring it on. Patel and his lawyers do not want to have to do a deposition or have discovery
motions.
Chemical Bill
(3,175 posts)on pay per view.
OldBaldy1701E
(11,286 posts)Discovery should be concurrent with incarceration due to a potential flight risk.
But, I am not a lawyer, so what do I know?
Lovie777
(23,206 posts)do Patel really want his dirty laundry exposed.
mucifer
(25,695 posts)believes it doesn't matter because he will have tons of grift and will get a pocket pardon.
It's disturbing The Atlantic has to waste this kind of time and money on reporting the truth.
paleotn
(22,398 posts)If anything, they're inversely related.
Donnie appointed the competent ones in his first term, really whoever various GOP circles recommended, and it got him a lot of "no, you can't do that" or "that's not a good idea and here's why." This time, Donnie is doing it his way. His people. Yes people who will never tell him no. That role usually attracts people with the intellect of an artichoke. Add the fact that "his people" are extremely unqualified for their positions and this is what you get. A shit show of epic proportions.
surfered
(13,751 posts)Prairie Gates
(8,294 posts)Trump will also be hesitant to shitcan an FBI Director after just a year and change.
newdeal2
(5,501 posts)I very much doubt he cares whether he is there or not. Kash is probably smart to live in Vegas and travel the world instead of being in Trumps line of sight.
paleotn
(22,398 posts)Discovery should be fun. Such stupid people.
Botany
(77,533 posts)
. me.
Real Lawyer: No bad idea. And if you are suing for slander what part of the article isnt true?
The Director of the FBI was passed out drunk @ the Poodle Room in Vegas on weekends and
on the the American Peoples dime too. I am not going in front of a Judge or Jury to sell that
bucket of horse shit.
JohnnyRingo
(20,920 posts)I doubt he would pay retainers for what will be a very expensive legal matter.
Of course it would also lead to subpoenas of witnesses he wouldn't want the courts to hear from.
I say it's a page from Trump's playbook: "Say you're going to sue as ersatz proof that you're innocent, then quietly drop the lawsuit leaving followers to believe you've been exonerated".