Amid a major controversy that FBI director Kash Patel‘s work is suffering because of his alleged intoxication as reported by the Atlantic and legally challenged by Patel, the Indian-origin FBI chief spoke about it during a press conference and said while he is not a teetotaler, he is never drunk on the job.The press conference was not about Kash Patel’s drinking habits but the FBI director had to face a question on the controversy. “I can say unequivocally that I never listen to the fake news mafia and when they get louder, it just means I’m doing my job,” Patel said. “I’ve never been intoxicated on the job, and that is why we filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit. And any one of you that wants to participate, bring it on.”
With his voice trembling, Patel said he is the first one in the office and the last one out and put in more hours to the work. “I’m like an everyday American who loves his country, loves the sport of hockey and champions my friends when they raise a gold medal and invite me in to celebrate,” Patel said referring to his viral video of guzzling a beer in February while celebrating in the locker room with players of the US Olympic Men’s Hockey team after they defeated Canada to take the gold medal in Milan, Italy. He however did not mention the video.During the press conference, an NBC New reporter asked him about the incident reported by The Atlantic when he apparently freaked out that he got locked out of his system. Atlantic reported that Patel is so paranoid that he thought he was fired. “The problem with you and your baseless reporting is that is an absolute lie. It was never said. It never happened. And I will serve in this administration as long as the president and the attorney general want me to do so,” Patel said. “I was never locked out of my systems.”The Atlantic story has triggered a major controversy as Atlantic said they would fight Patel’s $250 million lawsuit in the court.