FBI Director Kash Patel is threatening to sue The Atlantic magazine over a recent report that alleges he has engaged in excessive drinking and had unexplained absences from work.

According to Patel's legal representatives, the report contains what they describe as "categorically false" claims about the FBI director's conduct. The lawyer characterized The Atlantic's story as a "hit piece" against Patel.

The Atlantic report allegedly claims that Patel's "conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences" have caused concern among Justice Department and FBI officials. The story also reportedly includes an allegation that during one incident, Patel's security detail requested "breaching equipment" to access him from a locked room.

Patel's legal team has described the report as "defamatory" and indicated they plan to pursue court action against the publication. The threatened lawsuit represents an escalation in tensions between the FBI director and the news media.

Neither The Atlantic nor representatives for Patel have provided additional details about the specific allegations or the timeline of the reported incidents. The FBI and Justice Department have not issued public statements regarding the matter.