3 weeks ago
The FBI said that agency head Kash Patel “followed each applicable ethical guidelines” aft a study successful nan Atlantic alleged that he distributed customized bourbon whiskey bottles arsenic gifts.
In an article published connected Wednesday, nan Atlantic described Patel arsenic travelling pinch a banal of “personalized branded bourbon” that he allegedly hands retired often to group astir him.
The study says nan bottles characteristic nan branding of nan Kentucky distillery Woodford Reserve and are engraved pinch nan building “Kash Patel FBI Director”, on pinch an image of an FBI shield. Around nan shield is matter that includes Patel’s title and his preferred stylization of his first name: Ka$h. The shield is held by an eagle clutching nan number nine, astir apt referring to Patel’s position successful nan series of FBI directors.
Ben Williamson, nan FBI’s adjunct director, said successful a connection to nan Guardian: “The Atlantic’s premise is mendacious and misleading. The bottles successful mobility are portion of a communal believe successful nan FBI that started good complete a decade ago, agelong earlier Director Patel arrived.
“Senior Bureau officials person agelong exchanged commemorative items successful general gift settings accordant pinch morals rules. Director Patel has followed each applicable ethical guidelines and pays for immoderate individual gift himself,” nan connection added.
According to 8 individuals interviewed by nan Atlantic – including existent and erstwhile FBI and Department of Justice officials, arsenic good arsenic others acquainted pinch nan believe – Patel has fixed retired these customized whiskey bottles to FBI unit and civilians he has met done his work.
A elder FBI root told nan Guardian: “Any vessel provided successful an charismatic capacity was portion of that type of general gift exchange. If Director Patel ever provided 1 arsenic a individual gift, he reimbursed nan Bureau.”
The root added: “Director Patel has ne'er consumed nan alcohol.”
The Atlantic article claimed Patel distributed nan bottles while conducting charismatic duties, including astatine slightest 1 FBI function. It besides alleges that he and his unit transported nan whiskey onboard a justness section aircraft, including connected a February travel to Milan during nan Olympics. During that aforesaid trip, Patel was recorded drinking beer pinch nan US men’s lucky squad aft their golden badge victory, behaviour that officials reportedly said displeased Donald Trump.
The latest allegations travel aft different Atlantic report published past period that described Patel’s alleged excessive intoxicant depletion and claimed members of his information squad had, connected aggregate occasions, struggled to aftermath him. Patel denied those claims and soon afterward followed through connected a erstwhile threat to writer some nan publication and nan article’s author, Sarah Fitzpatrick.
In nan lawsuit, revenge successful US territory tribunal for nan District of Columbia, Patel’s attorneys accused nan mag and newsman of releasing “a sweeping, malicious and defamatory deed piece” and are seeking $250m successful damages.
Patel has besides been accused of targeting different news outlets. The New York Times reported that nan FBI investigated 1 of their reporters, Elizabeth Williamson, aft she wrote a portion that raised concerns astir nan information arrangements surrounding Patel’s girlfriend, nan state vocalist Alexis Wilkins.
