FBI Director Kash Patel is embroiled in yet another controversy following a report that he ordered polygraph tests for more than a dozen current and former members of his security detail. The report, published by MS NOW on Thursday, cited two individuals briefed on the matter, describing the embattled director as being in a state of panic and isolating himself from senior FBI leaders.
Latest Incident Adds to Growing List
This development is the latest in a series of incidents that have placed Patel under scrutiny over recent months. Previous controversies include an incident at the Winter Olympics where Patel was filmed chugging beer in a locker room with Team USA, a bombshell report in The Atlantic detailing excessive drinking and erratic behavior, and a subsequent Atlantic report claiming Patel distributed self-branded bourbon bottles to FBI staff and civilians during official business.
FBI Spokesman Denies Isolation Claims
FBI spokesman Ben Williamson declined to comment on whether Patel ordered the polygraph tests but refuted claims of self-isolation. “I have been in the usual operational leader meetings with him every day this week … it is false,” Williamson told MS NOW. He added, “The only people in panic are the ‘panicans’ in the media pushing out false stories because they spend zero time covering the record-breaking success in reduction in crime at this FBI.”
Critics Question Motives
Critics were quick to respond, with many labeling Patel as paranoid and questioning why he would feel the need to polygraph his security team if The Atlantic story was untrue, as he claimed in his $250 million defamation lawsuit against the magazine. A Politico report last month quoted a top White House official suggesting Patel would likely be the next Trump administration cabinet member to be fired, stating it was “only a matter of time.”
Public figures and commentators took to social media to express their views. Joe Walsh tweeted, “Kash is just a bad, paranoid mess. Never should have been given that job. What a disaster he is.” George Conway sarcastically suggested Patel should hunt down the “treasonous scoundrel” who stole a bottle of his bourbon and gave it to The Atlantic. Others, like Don Winslow, argued that a real leader would have the trust of his team and not resort to polygraph tests. Jane Coaston questioned whether the leak that led to the story should be investigated, while Caroline Orr Bueno noted that acknowledging the leaks could undermine Patel’s defamation lawsuit. The House Judiciary Democrats criticized Patel for spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on polygraph exams while refusing an alcohol abuse screening test.
The FBI has not issued further comments on the matter at this time.
