FBI director Kash Patel has filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic and journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick over an article his lawyers describe as a “sweeping, malicious and defamatory hit piece” about his leadership at the agency.
The profile, published over the weekend, portrayed Patel as a paranoid figure prone to excessive drinking, behaviour that allegedly alarmed officials within the FBI and across Donald Trump’s administration. The lawsuit, filed on Monday in Washington, D.C., seeks compensatory, special and punitive damages of no less than $250 million, as well as the disgorgement of income earned from what it calls “lies” about Patel.
The Atlantic defended its reporting in a statement, saying: “We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel, and we will vigorously defend The Atlantic and our journalists against this meritless lawsuit.” The article, based on interviews with more than two dozen people familiar with Patel’s conduct, alleged unexplained absences and drinking in Washington and Las Vegas that could make the nation’s top law enforcement official vulnerable to coercion.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not address the allegations directly but said Patel “remains a critical player on the Administration’s law and order team.” The lawsuit cites more than a dozen allegedly defamatory sentences, including claims that Patel is “known to drink to the point of obvious intoxication,” which the complaint says are fabricated. Patel himself wrote on social media: “Memo to the fake news — the only time I’ll ever actually be concerned about the hit piece lies you write about me will be when you stop.”
In an appearance on Fox News, Patel said: “You want to attack my character? Come at me. Bring it on. I’ll see you in court.” The lawsuit also criticises The Atlantic for not allowing Patel sufficient time to respond to the allegations.
