Sean Hannity defends Kash Patel in glowing on-air praise amid allegations of his drunken behavior

WASHINGTON, DC: Fox News host Sean Hannity offered a full-throated defense of embattled FBI Director Kash Patel on Monday night, telling him on-air, “Obviously, you’re doing an incredible job."

Patel has been under intense scrutiny in recent weeks following a series of reports detailing alleged excessive drinking, unexplained absences, and controversial use of FBI resources.

Last month, The Atlantic published a report claiming Patel at one point believed President Donald Trump had fired him after he was reportedly locked out of an FBI computer system.

The report also alleged that “members of his security detail had difficulty waking Patel because he was seemingly intoxicated, according to information supplied to Justice Department and White House officials.” In another incident, members of Patel’s detail allegedly called for “breaching equipment” because he was unavailable behind locked doors.

The claims landed just days after a viral video showed Patel chugging beer inside the US men’s hockey team locker room after the squad won a gold medal. 

Patel has denied the allegations in the aforementioned report and is now suing The Atlantic for $250 million.

Hannity turns conversation toward attacks on houses of worship

Patel appeared on Monday’s episode of Hannity just hours after two teenage gunmen opened fire at a mosque in San Diego, killing three people before later taking their own lives, according to police.

While Hannity addressed the mosque shooting during the program, he pivoted during his interview with Patel to discuss attacks on churches and synagogues across the country.

“Director, I know a lot of pastors, I know a lot of rabbis around the country,” Hannity said. “Without exception, they have all upped their security level to the highest levels they’ve ever had to before. Why does it appear that churches and synagogues are being targeted like never before?”

“Because these people are pure evil,” Patel replied. “These people wish to target Americans based on their faith because they are intolerant of the way America operates. They are jealous of the American democracy that we have here, and they choose to be cowards and target us from afar based on our institutions and our houses of worship and our faith. And that’s what separates America from the rest of the world.”

Hannity responded by praising Patel directly.

“Americans deserve law and order and safety and security,” the Fox host said, as quoted by Mediaite. “Obviously, you’re doing an incredible job. The numbers do speak for themselves.”

Senate clash and relentless headlines keep pressure on Patel

The FBI director’s media appearance came amid yet another rough news cycle.

Last week, reports surfaced that Patel had taken part in a “VIP snorkel” excursion near the USS Arizona, the famed battleship that sank during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Earlier this month, Patel also found himself in a showdown with Sen. Chris Van Hollen during a tense Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing.

Van Hollen cited allegations from The Atlantic report, referencing claims of “erratic” behavior, “excessive drinking,” and “unexplained absences.” Patel has repeatedly denied all accusations.

“When your private actions make it impossible for you to perform your public duties, we have a big problem. You cannot perform those public duties if you’re incapacitated,” Van Hollen said.

“And Director Patel, these reports about your conduct, including reports of your being so drunk and hungover that your staff had to force entry into your home are extremely alarming. If true, they demonstrate a gross dereliction of your duty and a betrayal of public trust,” the senator added.

Patel fired back almost immediately, calling the report “unequivocally, categorically false."

“The only person who was slinging margaritas in El Salvador on the taxpayer dollar with a convicted gang banging r*pist was you,” Patel alleged, referencing Van Hollen’s 2025 trip to El Salvador, where the senator met deported migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia at the country’s high-security “Terrorism Confinement Center” better known as CECOT.

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