FBI Director Kash Patel said Sunday the bureau has gathered evidence supporting President Trump’s claim that the 2020 election was stolen, but that he is not ready to share any of the information because he does not want to get ahead of the investigation.
“We have the information that backs President Trump’s claim,” Mr. Patel said on “Fox News Sunday.” “I can’t get ahead of the DOJ and the president, but President Trump, President Trump speaks truthfully when he says that.”
He urged viewers to “stay tuned this week. You might see a thing or two.”
His comments came as he was pushing back against a bombshell report in The Atlantic alleging he has a drinking problem that has undermined his ability to lead the bureau.
The article — based on interviews with more than two dozen current and former FBI agents and officials — described Mr. Patel as “erratic, suspicious of others, and prone to jumping to conclusions before he has necessary evidence,” and called his behavior “a national‑security vulnerability.”
It said meetings and briefings had to be moved because he had been drinking the night before, and some officials questioned whether his missteps in the investigation into the killing of Charlie Kirk were alcohol‑related.
Mr. Patel said he will file a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic on Monday.
“You want to attack my character? Come at me. Bring it on. I’ll see you in court,” he said.
Mr. Patel dismissed the article as part of what he called a “fake news mafia” campaign against him, arguing the criticism is proof the FBI is doing its job.
“If the fake news mafia isn’t hitting you personally with baseless information in Washington, D.C., then you’re not doing your job,” he said.
He said the FBI has a historic record of achievement under his tenure, including a reduction in the homicide rate, a drop in opioid overdose deaths, and the capture of eight of the world’s top 10 most‑wanted fugitives. He also said the FBI stopped four planned terrorist attacks over the holiday season.
Mr. Patel said the material related to Mr. Trump’s 2020 stolen election claims is being folded into a broader conspiracy case being handled with Department of Justice prosecutors under Attorney General Todd Blanche.
He declined to offer specifics, citing the investigation, and linked the effort to his earlier work exposing what he described as corruption during Mr. Trump’s first term. He said it required Mr. Trump’s reelection and new FBI leadership to uncover the information.
Courts, election officials and Mr. Trump’s own Justice Department during his first term rejected allegations of widespread fraud sufficient to change the outcome of the 2020 election.
