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  "path": "/news/1993516/fbi-director-kash-patel-sues-the-atlantic-claiming-false-reporting-about-drinking-absences",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-20T14:52:39.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.dawn.com",
  "tags": [
    "World",
    "article",
    "New York Times",
    "Wall Street Journal"
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  "textContent": "Director of the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel, filed a defamation lawsuit against American magazine _The_ _Atlantic_ and its reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick following the publication of an article on Friday alleging the director had a drinking problem that could pose a threat to national security.\n\nThe magazine’s story, initially titled ‘Kash Patel’s Erratic Behavior Could Cost Him His Job’, cited more than two dozen anonymous sources expressing concern at Patel’s alleged conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences that alarmed officials at the FBI and the Department of Justice.\n\nThe article, which _The Atlantic_ subsequently titled ‘The FBI Director Is MIA’ in its online version, alleged that the FBI had to reschedule early meetings as a result of Patel’s alcohol-fuelled nights and that he is often away or unreachable, delaying time-sensitive decisions needed to advance investigations.\n\nIn _The Atlantic_ ’s story, the White House, the Department of Justice and Patel denied the allegations. The article included a statement from the FBI attributed to Patel, saying: “Print it, all false, I’ll see you in court, bring your checkbook.”\n\nPatel rejected the claims made in the article.\n\n_The Atlantic_ ’s story is a lie, Patel claimed in an interview with _Reuters_. “They were given the truth before they published, and they chose to print falsehoods anyway.”\n\nAfter Patel threatened to sue the publication on Sunday in an appearance on _Fox News_ , _The Atlantic_ Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg said in a statement to _CNBC_ , “We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel.”\n\n_Reuters_ could not independently establish the accuracy of _The Atlantic_ ’s article or why the publication changed the title. _The Atlantic_ and Fitzpatrick could not be immediately reached for comment.\n\nPatel’s complaint says that while _The Atlantic_ is free to criticise the leadership of the FBI, they crossed the legal line by publishing an article “replete with false and obviously fabricated allegations designed to destroy Director Patel’s reputation and drive him from office”.\n\nThe lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks $250 million in damages.\n\nThe lawsuit alleges _The Atlantic_ ignored the FBI’s denials and did not respond to a Friday letter from Patel’s lawyer, Jesse Binnall, to senior editors and _The Atlantic_ ’s legal department, asking for more time to refute the 19 allegations the reporter told the FBI’s press office she would be publishing.\n\n_Reuters_ could not establish how or if _The Atlantic_ responded to Binnall’s request.\n\nThe lawsuit alleges the publication acted with actual malice, a legal standard that requires public figures such as Patel to show the publisher knowingly printed false information or recklessly ignored doubts about its accuracy.\n\nThe lawsuit says defendants’ conscious decision to ignore the detailed, specific, and substantive refutations in the Pre-Publication Letter, and their refusal to give a reasonable amount of time for the FBI and Director Patel to respond, is among the strongest possible evidence of actual malice.\n\nThe lawsuit is the latest instance of a Trump administration figure suing a media outlet.\n\nA judge earlier dismissed Trump’s lawsuit against _CNN_ for describing election denialism as the “big lie”.\n\nJudges also dismissed Trump’s lawsuits against the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Trump has refiled his lawsuit against the _New York Times_ and may refile against the _Wall Street Journal_.\n\nHe has also secured some settlements. _ABC News_ agreed to settle a case for $15m plus $1m in legal fees. Paramount Global agreed to pay $16m for what the Trump administration called deceptive editing of a _CBS News_ interview with his opponent in the 2024 election, Kamala Harris.",
  "title": "FBI Director Kash Patel sues The Atlantic claiming false reporting about drinking, absences"
}