Kash Patel, the director of the FBI, has filed a $250m defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic magazine and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick over an article that alleged he engaged in excessive drinking while in charge of the bureau.
The lawsuit, lodged in the US district court for the District of Columbia, claims the 17 April article was a “sweeping, malicious and defamatory hit piece” that relied on anonymous sources with an ax to grind. Patel’s legal team argues the magazine acted with ‘actual malice’ by publishing false allegations despite being told they were untrue.
The Atlantic has stood by its reporting, which cited six current and former officials who said meetings and briefings had to be rescheduled due to Patel’s “alcohol-fueled nights”. A spokesperson for the magazine said it would “vigorously defend” against the “meritless” lawsuit.
Patel’s lawyers also criticised the magazine for not giving enough time to respond before publication. They noted that reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick had been warned in a pre-publication letter that a lawsuit would follow. Patel himself had posted: “Print it, all false, I’ll see you in court – bring your checkbook.”
The case is the latest flashpoint in a combative relationship between the Trump administration and the media. Democrats, including Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, have cited the article to call for Patel’s resignation, saying Americans deserve “sober leadership” from the FBI director.
