Donald Trump’s under-fire FBI director, Kash Patel, has allegedly been giving away engraved bottles of bourbon, in a stark contrast to his expectations as the leader of a major intelligence organisation.
The Atlantic, which first reported on the worry FBI personnel had about Patel’s drinking habits and behaviour, prompting Patel to take legal action against the publication, has now uncovered another piece of the puzzle – free liquor.
The bottles of Kentucky Woodford Reserve bourbon are engraved with ‘Kash Patel FBI Director’ and the FBI shield.
Some of the bottles are signed by Patel himself, who added ‘#9’, in a nod to his place as the ninth FBI director in the US.
Eight people told the publication that Patel has handed out the bottles to staff and civilians he’s encountered while working. He’s also used government planes to transport the bottles.
The FBI said the gifts are ‘routine’, in which ‘senior bureau officials exchange commemorative items in formal gift settings consistent with ethics rules’.
‘Director Patel has followed all applicable ethical guidelines and pays for any personal gift himself,’ a spokesperson added.
But when the Atlantic reached out to a former senior FBI official to ask about personally branded liquor bottles from other FBI directors, the official burst out laughing.
Patels’ increasingly scrutinised behaviour has rung alarm bells for current and former FBI employees, who are prohibited from using alcohol while working and are prohibited from using it in excess while off-duty, in case it ‘impairs judgement’.
But when offered a bottle of the liquor from the FBI director, one agent told the Atlantic: ‘If you aren’t on board on receiving it enthusiastically, you are getting polygraphed for loyalty.’
Patel has continued to deny any wrongdoing and has issued a lawsuit against the Atlantic for a previous article, in which they reported that Patel had been heavily intoxicated while on the job.
In March, a pro-Iranian group published personal emails and pictures of the head of the FBI after hacking into his accounts.
Hundreds of documents, pictures and a CV of Patel were shared by the Handala Hack Team, which has links to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence.
The group wrote: ‘Kash Patel, the current head of the FBI, who once saw his name displayed with pride on the agency’s headquarters, will now find his name among the list of successfully hacked victims.
‘The so-called ‘impenetrable’ systems of the FBI were brought to their knees within hours by our team.’
Many of the hacked records shared were from more than a decade ago.
Leaked photos included one of Mr Patel smoking a cigar in his mouth and another of the FBI boss standing next to a vintage sports car.
Handala, which presents as a pro-Palestinian hacking group, is thought to be one of several fronts used by the Iranian regime to conduct cyber attacks.