THE FBI DIRECTOR'S UNUSUAL CALLING CARD: "Ka$h Patel" bourbon is his newest innovation.

[demmiblue]

One of J. Edgar Hoover’s greatest reforms at the FBI was his embrace of fingerprinting. During the 1930s, visitors to the FBI offices in Washington, D.C., received souvenir fingerprint cards featuring his name. The men who succeeded him as FBI director were more discreet and judicious, mindful of the cult of personality that had developed around Hoover. They generally avoided giving out branded swag.

But then came Kash Patel.

President Trump’s FBI director has a great deal of affection for swag. Merchandise for sale on a website he co-founded—still operating, nearly 15 months into his term—includes beanies ($35), T-shirts ($35), orange camo hoodies ($65), trucker caps ($25), “government gangsters” playing cards (on sale for $10), and a Fight With Kash Punisher scarf ($25).

One thing not for sale is liquor, because liquor is something Patel gives away for free.

Last month, I reported that FBI personnel were alarmed by what they said was erratic behavior and excessive drinking by Patel. (The FBI director has denied the allegations and filed a defamation suit against The Atlantic and me.)

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/05/kash-patel-fbi-bourbon/687066/?gift=1ga2TvL-DbuHDQIcYF7oR6U3vBnplzdXpR-IfLYjHio&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

"Patel has distributed his self-branded bottles while on official business, including during at least one FBI event. He and his team have transported the whiskey using a DOJ plane, including when he went to Milan during the Olympics in February."

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1.bsky.social) 2026-05-06T20:50:09.938Z