Donald Trump's embattled FBI director, Kash Patel, has been handing out engraved bottles of Kentucky bourbon—a move that's raising eyebrows inside the agency he leads.
The bottles of Woodford Reserve are etched with his name, title, and the FBI shield. Many are signed by Patel himself, who adds "#9" to mark his place as the ninth FBI director in history.
Eight sources confirmed Patel has given these personalized bottles to staff and civilians alike. He's even used government planes to transport them.
The FBI insists the gifts are routine. "Director Patel has followed all applicable ethical guidelines and pays for any personal gift himself," a spokesperson said.
But when a former senior FBI official was asked about other directors handing out personally branded liquor, the response was a burst of laughter.
Current and former employees are sounding alarms. FBI rules ban alcohol use on the job and prohibit excessive off-duty drinking that could "impair judgment."
One agent described the uncomfortable dynamic: "If you aren’t on board with receiving it enthusiastically, you are getting polygraphed for loyalty."
Patel denies any wrongdoing and has sued the outlet that first reported concerns about his drinking on the job.
In a separate incident, a pro-Iranian hacking group breached Patel's accounts and leaked hundreds of personal documents and photos.
The group, Handala, boasted that the FBI's "impenetrable" systems were brought to their knees in hours. Leaked images showed Patel smoking a cigar and standing beside a vintage sports car.
