Kash Patel sues The Atlantic for $250 million, calls report on conduct 'fabricated'

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against a leading media publisher for defamation after a report claimed that he had a drinking problem that could cost him his job. The 19-page complaint against The Atlantic and its reporter, Sarah Fitzpatrick, was submitted Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. 

In The Atlantic's report, Fitzpatrick claimed that the FBI director has been increasingly concerned about the security of his position and had reportedly panicked about losing his job after failing to log into an internal computer system. The report went on to claim that Patel, as director of the FBI, was "erratic, suspicious of others, and prone to jumping to conclusions" without necessary evidence. Additionally, as per the report, his conduct as the head of the federal investigative agency was marked by "conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences." 

The FBI director had previously threatened to sue the publisher over the report, which he claimed was "all false." In a statement to Reuters, Patel called the article "a lie" and said that the publisher chose to "print falsehoods" despite being "given the truth before they published." While The Atlantic has vowed to vigorously defend its journalists against the "meritless lawsuit," Patel said that the publication "crossed a line" by publishing "fabricated allegations designed to destroy" Patel’s reputation.

Patel's lawsuit points out that the article relied on more than two dozen anonymous sources, including current and former FBI officials, intelligence staff, and hospitality workers, and alleges that The Atlantic ignored a "pre-publication" letter sent by his legal representative. Jesse Binnall, an attorney representing Patel, wrote in a post on X that the publication was on notice that the claims were "categorically false and defamatory." "They published anyway," Binnell added in his post, sharing a letter he sent to The Atlantic.

"Should you publish these false allegations, Director Patel will take swift legal action to uphold his reputation. We demand that you remove and refuse to publish each of the following defamatory statements, and afford Director Patel and the FBI a full and reasonable opportunity to respond," part of Binnall's letter read. 

However, Fitzpatrick has denied allegations that the magazine did not properly seek comment, as per a BBC report. In an interview with MSNBC, The Atlantic reporter said that she reached out to both the White House and Justice Department for comment, and neither of them disputed anything. "We gave multiple opportunities, including 19 detailed questions. So we stand by every word," she said, as per the BBC report.