FBI Director Kash Patel has filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic and staff writer Sarah Fitzpatrick. The legal action follows a report published last Friday that alleged Patel has a history of alcohol abuse and unexplained absences at the bureau.
According to The Atlantic, Patel's role as head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is in jeopardy due to bouts of excessive drinking and unexplained absences. The detailed article, which cited more than two-dozen sources, claimed that Patel alarmed colleagues with episodes of conspicuous inebriation and that the FBI had to reschedule early meetings as a result of his alcohol-fuelled nights. The publication further suggested that his drinking problem could pose a threat to national security.
Patel has described the reporting as a sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece. He alleges that the claims are false, obviously fabricated, and based on anonymous sources with partisan motives. Seeking $250 million in damages, the director maintains that the story consists of malicious lies.