FBI Director Kash Patel has threatened to sue The Atlantic for defamation following a report that suggests that he drinks excessively and is frequently absent from the bureau. The magazine spoke to over two dozen people, including current and former FBI officials, staff at law-enforcement and intelligence agencies, members of Congress, political operatives, lobbyists and former advisers. The Atlantic described Patel's tenure as "a management failure" and his behavior as "erratic" and "a national-security vulnerability". Patel has been vocal in his defense on social media following the story. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also defended Patel's performance.