Senator Blumenthal makes the one move that could end Kash Patel's FBI career

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Patel needs to go

Link to tweet

https://www.rawstory.com/kash-patel-inspector-general-investigation/

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) on Monday formally asked the Justice Department's internal watchdog to investigate FBI Director Kash Patel — escalating a months-long firestorm over the embattled director's alleged drinking and reports that he has cooked the bureau's arrest stats.

In a letter to Deputy Inspector General William Blier, Blumenthal requested a formal probe into "the allegations that Director Patel's excessive drinking has interfered with his ability to perform his role" — as well as separate allegations that Patel has been "manipulating both arrest statistics and the FBI's Most Wanted list."

It's the first time a senator has officially routed the swirling allegations to an independent investigator with subpoena power — a body that has ended FBI careers before.

"The role of FBI Director is not a part-time job," Blumenthal wrote. "The Director must be on call and ready to perform at all hours. We are fortunate that a terror attack, mass shooting, or assassination did not occur while Patel was intoxicated or unreachable — but these allegations leave me deeply concerned about his ability to continue serving in the role."

The senator cited bombshell reporting from The Atlantic last month, which detailed Patel's alleged pattern of drinking and unexplained absences. According to that account, members of Patel's security detail at one point requested SWAT-style "breaching equipment" because they couldn't wake him behind locked doors.

[dalton99a]

1. Blumenthal's letter:

https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/doj_oig_re_patel_misconduct_and_stat_manipulation_-_version_2_-_05-18-2026__02-40_pmpdf.pdf