FBI Director Kash Patel Orders Polygraphs on Inner Circle Amid Leak Probe and Questions About Leadership

FBI Director Kash Patel, a controversial figure with no prior law enforcement experience, has reportedly ordered polygraph tests for more than two dozen current and former staffers close to him. According to two sources familiar with the matter, the goal is to identify who might have leaked sensitive information about Patel’s behavior and management of the FBI to the press.

The staff targeted by these tests include members of Patel’s security detail and information technology personnel—those with direct access to his inner circle. This move comes amid rising pressure on Patel, who has been under intense scrutiny following a series of damaging reports about his fitness to lead the nation’s top law enforcement agency.

Patel has been accused of “excessive drinking and unexplained absences,” with one report from The Atlantic revealing a bizarre incident where SWAT breaching equipment was requested to access him because he was “seemingly intoxicated.” These revelations have alarmed colleagues and raised serious questions about his capacity to manage critical investigations and national security threats.

Despite these reports, official FBI channels have denied the claims, dismissing them as “false” and accusing the media of pushing “panic” stories while ignoring the bureau’s “record-breaking success” in crime reduction. However, the FBI spokesperson declined to comment on the polygraph tests themselves.

Further complicating Patel’s position, the FBI has reportedly launched an investigation into Sarah Fitzpatrick, the journalist who broke the story about his alleged misconduct. Patel has also filed a $250 million lawsuit against The Atlantic, challenging their reporting. Fitzpatrick’s follow-up article highlighted Patel’s unusual practice of distributing custom-engraved bourbon bottles bearing his name to staff and civilians—a gesture the FBI insists complies with ethical guidelines.

Patel’s rapid rise to FBI director was unconventional. A former federal prosecutor and National Security Council staffer under Trump, he became a right-wing media figure during the Biden administration, promoting conspiracy theories including false claims about the 2020 election and COVID-19 misinformation. His lack of law enforcement background has been a persistent point of concern.

According to POLITICO’s White House bureau chief, an administration official has indicated that Patel’s removal is “only a matter of time,” underscoring the growing instability surrounding his leadership.

Patel’s polygraph order and the surrounding controversy reveal a troubling pattern of politicization and internal distrust within the FBI, raising urgent questions about the integrity and independence of America’s premier federal law enforcement agency under his direction.