politics
FBI Defends Kash Patel's Distribution of Personalized Bourbon Bottles
FBI Director Kash Patel has distributed engraved Woodford Reserve bourbon bottles bearing his name, FBI shield and the designation #9 to staff and civilians, including during official travel. Current and former agents described the practice as unusual and demoralizing, citing concerns over standards and potential retribution for those who object.
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The 750-milliliter Woodford Reserve bottles also feature the spelling "Ka$h" and, in some cases, Patel's signature. Recipients include FBI staff and civilians encountered in his role. One bottle was left behind in a locker room during that visit. On the same trip Patel was filmed drinking beer with the U.S. men's hockey team after it won gold, an episode that drew internal criticism because President Trump does not drink alcohol.
Patel responded at the time that he was simply celebrating with friends. In March Patel's team brought at least one case of the bourbon to a training seminar at the FBI's Quantico, Virginia, facility where Ultimate Fighting Championship athletes instructed agents.
When a bottle went missing Patel became extremely upset and threatened polygraph examinations and prosecutions of staff, according to multiple agents who contacted attorney Kurt Siuzdak for guidance. "It turned into a shitshow," Siuzdak said. He and other lawyers reported receiving similar calls from FBI employees worried about reputational damage and conflicting standards.
Siuzdak, a retired agent, has advised some clients to avoid Patel. The FBI did not dispute the distribution of the inscribed bottles. A spokesperson said they are part of a tradition of exchanging commemorative items that began well over a decade ago and that Patel pays for any personal gifts himself while following all ethical guidelines.
The spokesperson declined to specify which rules applied, when the bottles were engraved with Patel's name or whether past directors had distributed similarly personalized liquor. A former longtime senior FBI official laughed when asked if he had ever seen previous directors hand out personally branded bourbon bottles.
Several current and former agents, including senior leaders, said the practice of a director regularly giving personalized bourbon to civilians and staff was previously unheard of. They expressed concern that it bends the bureau's traditional zero-tolerance stance on alcohol misuse and creates uneven standards.
