Left-wing nonprofit group Democracy Forward filed a Freedom of Information Act request on Tuesday to find records related to a recent report concerning drinking allegations against FBI Director Kash Patel.
The FOIA request comes days after the Atlantic published an article, citing more than two dozen anonymous sources, about Patel’s alleged drinking problem and how that threatens national security. Patel insisted the story is false and moved to sue the magazine for defamation this week.
Alarmed by the allegations, Democracy Forward asked the FBI to provide records that include such terms as “alcohol,” “drunk,” “drinking,” “hungover,” and “inebriated” within 20 business days.
“Democracy Forward Foundation seeks records that would help the public understand the issues raised in the Atlantic article as it relates to previous reporting on potential concerns surrounding Director Patel’s ability to run a key law enforcement agency and his use of taxpayer dollars,” the group said in a document submitted to the bureau on Tuesday.
The requested records include emails, calendar invitations, text messages, and communications on Signal and other encrypted messaging apps shared among FBI officials, including those on Patel’s security detail.
FBI officials were allegedly unable to reach Patel or wake him up due to alcohol intoxication.
“If the Director of the FBI is a liability – the American people need to know,” Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman said in a statement. “News reports, including from The Atlantic, suggest that his levels of drinking and absentee leadership are not just unacceptable, but also a threat to the integrity of one of the most important law enforcement agencies in the country.”
“If true, this is not a minor lapse in judgment or a personal issue to brush aside; this goes to whether the FBI is being led with the discipline, reliability, and seriousness the job demands,” she added. “If leadership failures are putting agency operations, public safety, or taxpayer resources at risk, that is a crisis, and it demands immediate scrutiny.”
The progressive nonprofit group, based in Washington, D.C., is determined to find out whether Patel is among the government officials who use their private devices to conduct government business. The group is also concerned about his vacations while serving as the FBI director.
Federal lawmakers, particularly Democrats, have consistently scrutinized Patel’s use of a government-owned jet for personal trips since he assumed office last year.
Hours before publishing the story, the Atlantic was warned by the FBI that the drinking allegations were “categorically false and defamatory.” The outlet proceeded with the story anyway.
Patel followed up with legal threats, culminating in a $250 million defamation lawsuit filed on Monday.
KASH PATEL FILES $250 MILLION DEFAMATION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE ATLANTIC OVER DRINKING ALLEGATIONS
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) said on Tuesday he believes Patel is the next Trump appointee to get booted from the administration in light of his alleged unprofessional conduct.
President Donald Trump recently fired Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem from their leadership roles at the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security, respectively. Their exits were followed by the Monday resignation of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who faced sexual misconduct claims.