'I'm pretty worried': Big-name conservative 'alarmed' by 'serious' scandal embroiling FBI

A longtime GOP analyst said on Monday that he's alarmed by the acts of one of Trump's "irresponsible and reckless" leaders, as evidenced in a new report.

Bill Kristol, editor-at-large of The Bulwark, said during a new episode of "The Bulwark Podcast" with host Tim Miller that the recent report by The Atlantic about FBI Director Kash Patel's excessive drinking while on the job was "alarming." Not only is Patel's behavior concerning on its face, but Kristol added that it also showed how little pushback Patel is receiving internally, which may be a sign of a larger issue.

"I'm alarmed that, on the one hand, they're so alarmed by him," Kristol said about the anonymous sources who spoke to The Atlantic. "And on the other hand, it seems like he should be weaker than he is as director. I'm worried that their culture is to go along, or maybe there are some people who like having him there. Maybe I'm being unfair. Maybe they are curbing him more than I realize. I hope they are. This is something serious."

Kristol also warned that Patel may still be able to inflict significant damage on the FBI, even though recent reporting has portrayed him as incompetent.

"I'm pretty worried about the DOJ, FBI, and DoD situation," Kristol said. "Totally irresponsible and reckless leaders getting some push back, but also they can do an unbelievable amount of damage, and do it in a ham-handed and heavy-handed way."