Kash Patel's days are numbered according to a new analysis.
Kash Patel’s Bad Week Gets Worse as Analyst Predicts He Gets Fired From FBI
May 8 2026, Published 5:24 p.m. ET
FBI Director Kash Patel is facing a wave of negative headlines after Zeteo analyst Andrew Perez stated that the troubled bureau chief seems to be approaching the end of his time in President Donald Trump’s administration.
On Friday, Perez noted that Patel had a “week from hell” due to reports about his leadership, his reaction to leaks, and renewed scrutiny of his conduct at the FBI. Perez wrote in a Zeteo analysis, “He appears to know his time as FBI director is coming to a close. His departure can’t come soon enough.”
Patel is reportedly paranoid about his job security.
This assessment came after weeks of reporting on Patel’s management of the FBI. An April 17 article from The Atlantic described accounts from current and former officials detailing excessive drinking, unexplained absences, and staff anxiety regarding his availability.
Patel, the White House, and the Justice Department denied the claims made in that report.
On April 20, Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick, accusing them of publishing false statements based on anonymous sources. The Atlantic stated it stood by its reporting and would defend itself in court.
The article also mentioned that Patel panicked on April 10 when he could not access an internal computer system. He told aides and allies he believed the White House had fired him. The Atlantic reported that the issue seemed to be a technical error, which was resolved quickly.
The FBI responded again on Thursday after The Atlantic reported that Patel distributed personalized bourbon bottles with his name and FBI title.
FBI Assistant Director Ben Williamson told The Guardian that Patel “followed all applicable ethical guidelines” and noted that exchanging commemorative items has been a long-standing practice in formal bureau settings.
A senior FBI source informed The Guardian that any bottle given in an official capacity was part of a formal gift exchange and that Patel had reimbursed the bureau for any personal gift. The source also added that Patel “has never consumed the alcohol.”
The renewed scrutiny followed a request from House Judiciary Committee Democrats for Patel to complete a standardized alcohol-use screening test and submit the results to Congress.
In an April 22 letter led by Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the Democrats also sought security clearance questionnaires Patel has filled out since taking over as FBI director.
Patel denied the accusations at a news conference that day. “I’ve never been intoxicated on the job,” he told reporters. “Anyone who wants to participate, bring it on — I’ll see you in court.”
The latest reports also mention that the FBI began investigating leaks tied to Fitzpatrick’s reporting.
PEN America condemned this investigation, stating that federal law enforcement should not be used to intimidate journalists or their sources. The FBI has denied that such an investigation is ongoing.
Perez referred to these reports while arguing that Patel’s position is becoming increasingly fragile. He wrote that Patel “never had any business being the FBI director” and expressed doubt that Patel would stay in the role much longer.
Patel took the reins of the FBI after Trump returned to the White House and quickly became one of the most divisive figures in law enforcement.
During his confirmation hearing, he assured senators that there would be no retaliatory actions against bureau employees who had worked on investigations involving Trump.
The White House has not announced any personnel changes at the FBI. For now, Patel remains in his position as he battles The Atlantic in court and faces growing questions from lawmakers, press groups, and analysts about his future.