We're Getting Hit with Patel's Hangover

What looks like damage control in a one-off scandal is actually a strategy to do far more damage to democracy.

Kash Patel sued the Atlantic for $250 million over a report claiming his rampant alcoholism is affecting his job. Notice I didn’t call it a “bombshell,” since this guy was drinking (on camera) as recently as the winter Olympics. The Atlantic got 24 sources to corroborate the claim that Patel parties with White House staff at a private club in D.C., and with God-knows-who at the Poodle Room in Las Vegas. But that’s really beside the point. He gives Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandoski a run for their money in terms of “worst kept secrets.”

What’s important to pay attention to here is how Patel responded. Because we’ve seen this movie before. This isn’t about damage control on one bad headline. This sets the stage for what comes next.

He doth protest

This administration loves a lawsuit. Even better if it’s got an outrageously high dollar amount attached. Recall Trump’s $15 billion New York Times suit, and $10 billion suit against the Wall Street Journal (both dismissed). It’s the standard kneejerk reaction any time anyone’s feelings get hurt. But that’s just a tantrum. The real tell is what Patel did next.

In an interview with Maria Bartiromo, he announced that arrests related to 2020 election interference are “imminent.” He knew the fallout over the Atlantic report was coming and that it wasn’t going to look great (to put it mildly). So he ran to throw out another flashy headline in hopes of deflecting. That’s the other knee jerking.

This is what they do

These are the moments when Trump administration officials lean into Trump’s pet projects. Patel knew he needed something to distract from the humiliating exposé, and he knows that any mention of the 2020 election resets Trump’s nervous system, and so we get “imminent arrests.” They signal their loyalty, and get back in his good graces.

But it’s not just about ego stroking. And it’s not just about validating Trump’s delusions around the “stolen” election. Trump is dedicating so many resources - money, energy, personnel - to pursue this line of questioning that’s already been proven moot a hundred times over.

We’ve now seen this multiple times. Different states, same playbook. Sending Tulsi Gabbard to Georgia to seize ballots in February was not about 2020. Trying to get ballots from Wayne County, Michigan was not about 2020. It just happened in California, where Chad Bianco - who is running for Governor - tried to seize 650,000 2020 ballots. Twice is a coincidence, but three times is a trend worth watching. This is not about relitigating the past. It’s about intimidating people who might stand up to Trump in the future.

Stay focused

Don’t look at this through Kash Patel’s beer goggles because you won’t be seeing the whole picture. Because above all, it’s about undermining free and fair elections in this country. Whether or not these 2020 election lawsuits have merit - and they don’t; these are conspiracy theories top to bottom - they still serve as justification for questioning and interfering with elections in the future.

They’re reading it into the record now, so that very soon they can point to the fact that even if an election might have been compromised, it’s always worth questioning the results and it’s never worth trusting them.