February 23, 2026 at 01:13PM
FBI’s Patel defends beer-soaked Olympic celebration while on Italy trip
FBI Director Kash Patel defended his weekend beer-soaked locker-room celebration with the U.S. men’s hockey team at the Winter Olympics in Milan, stating he had been in Italy on official business. He emphasized he would personally cover any expenses for personal activities.
Patel said his trip to Italy was official and part of his duties, and he would pay his own way for non-work activities. He defended the celebration as a morale-boosting moment for the team.
The incident sparked scrutiny over the appropriateness of a federal official engaging in a celebratory event abroad during an Olympic assignment.