Reports suggest Kash Patel may be under pressure within the White House, with some officials indicating his position could be at risk. According to Politico, a senior White House official said it was "only a matter of time" before action could be taken, adding that Donald Trump had grown frustrated with negative headlines involving the FBI director, describing them as "not a good look for a Cabinet secretary".
Patel, 46, has recently sought to highlight his record on crime, following a report that described the FBI as being in "panic mode" over allegations about his conduct.The Atlanticreported on 17 April that current and former officials had raised concerns about what they described as erratic behaviour, including alleged unexplained absences and heavy drinking, which some feared could have national security implications.
Patel has strongly denied the claims, calling them "hit piece lies", and filed a$250m defamation lawsuitagainst The Atlantic. Further criticism has emerged in subsequent reports. Speaking on The Daily podcast byThe New York Times,former FBI intelligence section chief John Sullivan criticised Patel's public image.
"Kash Patel was putting out videos of him at Quantico kind of cosplaying as Rambo, being around explosions, and people rappelling from helicopters," he said.
"And, to many people, those videos, myself included, looked completely childish. The director, the leader of the FBI, is representing the organisation in a juvenile manner. And the work that we do and did was supremely serious."
The New York Timesalso reported that the FBI had sought toinvestigate a journalistwho wrote about Patel's partner, Alexis Wilkins, although officials at the Department of Justice intervened. Separately, The Intercept reported that Patel had disclosed two prior alcohol-related arrests to the Florida Bar in 2005, including one involving "public urination".
Patel had already faced scrutiny after footage appeared to show him celebrating in the locker room of the United States men's hockey team following their gold medal win at the Milan Olympics in February.
The reports come amid broader speculation of changes within Trump's cabinet. The President has recently dismissed several senior officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, all of whom had been the subject of negative media coverage.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Politico that Patel remains a "critical player" within the administration.
GetLatest NewsLive on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines fromUS Newsand around theWorld.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
