FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly ordered polygraph examinations for more than two dozen current and former FBI employees as part of an internal effort to identify alleged leaks within the bureau.
The reported order followed publication of articles by The Atlantic that described Patel as paranoid and accused him of excessive alcohol consumption while leading the nation’s top federal law enforcement agency.
According to reports published Friday, the requested lie detector tests involved members of Patel’s security detail and FBI information technology staff believed to have access to sensitive internal communications and operational information.
Sources cited in the reports claimed Patel became increasingly focused on leaks after negative media coverage emerged surrounding his leadership style and personal conduct since taking control of the FBI earlier this year.
The Atlantic previously reported Patel distributed custom bourbon bottles bearing his name and the FBI seal to associates and contacts. The bureau denied allegations that the gifts violated ethics standards or federal rules.
An FBI spokesman rejected claims Patel had entered “panic mode” following publication of the stories and denied reports that the director had isolated himself from senior leadership inside the agency.
FBI spokesman Ben Williamson said Patel continues meeting regularly with bureau officials and dismissed allegations surrounding the director’s behavior as inaccurate and unsupported by internal evidence or firsthand documentation.
Patel has filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit connected to allegations published by The Atlantic. Reports also said the FBI launched a criminal leak investigation after the stories appeared last month.
The bureau denied claims that agents were improperly asked to investigate reporters or journalism-related activity connected to publication of the articles involving Patel and internal FBI operations.
Several FBI agents privately expressed concern about investigating matters involving journalists and confidential sources without broader evidence supporting possible criminal conduct tied to the leaks, according to The Independent.
The Atlantic also reported Patel became increasingly suspicious of internal staff following publication of stories concerning alcohol use and the reported distribution of personalized bourbon bottles featuring the FBI insignia.
FBI officials denied any ethical violations connected to the bottles and said Patel followed existing ethics guidance governing gifts and commemorative items distributed within federal agencies and law enforcement offices.
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee criticized Patel following publication of the allegations and publicly mocked reports involving the custom bourbon bottles distributed by the FBI director to associates and staff.
Some Democratic lawmakers also called for Patel to undergo testing related to alcohol use after the allegations became public and sparked broader scrutiny surrounding leadership within the bureau and Trump administration.
Patel, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, became FBI director earlier this year after Senate confirmation and has pledged to restructure bureau leadership, reduce internal leaks and overhaul agency operations nationwide.
