FBI director Kash Patel has sued The Atlantic and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick over a story that alleged Patel has “alarmed colleagues with episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences.”

The defamation suit, filed Monday morning in US District Court in the District of Columbia, seeks $250 million in damages.

The Atlantic called the suit “meritless.”

“We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel, and we will vigorously defend The Atlantic and our journalists against this meritless lawsuit,” a spokesperson told CNN.

  • faltryka@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    That’s probably why he filed suit. Nobody cares about the lawsuit outcome but he might be able to surface some of the sources or people who talked so he can punish them.

    • rainwall@piefed.social
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      2 days ago

      Hes also beholden to discovery, including emails and communications to and about him and his issues.

      This is just saber rattling to the MAGA crowd. He will drop the lawsuit in a few months when this falls out of the news cycle.