FBI chief Kash Patel has admitted to two alcohol-related arrests

Politics
25 Apr 2026 • 11:30 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

FBI chief Kash Patel has admitted to two alcohol-related arrests

  • FBI Director Kash Patel is facing allegations of excessive drinking, leading him to file a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic magazine.
  • The Intercept uncovered documents revealing Patel's past admissions of two arrests: one for public intoxication as a minor and another for public urination as a law student.
  • Patel detailed these incidents in a letter for his Florida Bar application, asserting they were not representative of his usual behavior.
  • President Donald Trump continues to back Patel, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating Trump maintains confidence in the FBI director.
  • Patel's spokesperson, Erica Knight, dismissed the reports as an “attack” and a “distraction” from the FBI's successful efforts under his leadership.

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