Former hockey teammates of FBI Director Kash Patel have characterized him as dramatically different from the committed assistant coach they knew before his involvement with the Trump administration.
According to CNN reporter Isabelle Khurshudyan, Patel dismissed media reports about President Donald Trump as "fake news" during his coaching years, prompting teammates to laugh it off.
After leaving coaching following the 2019 season for "a really important job," Patel later appeared on Fox News with his own segment, surprising his former teammates.
Players noted his demeanor at the Olympics was unlike the "intense" and "deeply serious" coach they remembered, with some barely recognizing him.
The accounts emerge as Patel faces a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic over reporting detailing his alleged excessive drinking and erratic behavior. Multiple FBI officials cited in The Atlantic's investigation described unexplained absences, panic episodes, and concerning behavior patterns, raising questions about his fitness for office.
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