In the last couple of years, certain media outlets have reached multimillion-dollar settlements with Donald Trump after he filed lawsuits over misleading coverage and one deceptively edited video clearly designed to help out Kamala Harris shortly before the 2024 election.
Over the weekend, The Atlantic published a hit piece on FBI Director Kash Patel with claims completely from anonymous "sources" with all kinds of allegations about a drinking problem. The Atlantic is still pushing the story today:
Kash Patel’s colleagues are alarmed by what they say is erratic behavior and excessive drinking, Sarah Fitzpatrick reports. More than two dozen people she spoke with described his management failures and conduct that could harm national security. https://t.co/3lKRvcDR38
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) April 20, 2026
It's been said that many other media outlets took a pass on that, but The Atlantic saw what they were obviously spoon fed and said "Leeeeeeroy Jenkiiiins!"
The Atlantic published a "bombshell" on Director Patel tonight that every real DC reporter chased, couldn't verify, and passed on.
— Erica Knight (@_EricaKnight) April 17, 2026
Here's reality. Since being sworn in, Director Patel has taken a grand total of 17 days off — half as much time off as Comey and Wray — and he…
Search for any stories related to allegations of excessive drinking by Kash Patel before he became the FBI Director and you'll come up empty. The Left completely invented this narrative after Patel was seen partying with Team USA after the gold media hockey win, so pardon our skepticism.
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BREAKING: FBI Director Kash Patel sues The Atlantic for $250 million over its story on his alleged drinking. https://t.co/dOrVuBy7yW
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 20, 2026
From CBS News:
The 19-page lawsuit, filed in the District of Columbia, is seeking $250 million in damages. Sarah Fitzpatrick, the reporter who wrote the story, is also named as a defendant.
Patel and the FBI have repeatedly denied allegations in the story, which included allegations that Patel often drinks to excess. The piece, which cited multiple unnamed current and former officials, also said that Patel's "irregular presence at FBI headquarters and in field offices" has delayed "time-sensitive decisions" that require the FBI director's input.
The lawsuit listed 17 allegations in the article that Patel's legal team alleges were "false and defamatory statements of fact," including that he "is known to drink to the point of obvious intoxication."
"Each of the foregoing statements and implications is false. They are so demonstrably and obviously false, or easily refuted, that it was at best reckless to publish them," the suit said.
"It was at best reckless to publish them." Well, that's kind of what The Atlantic does these days.
FLASH: Kash Patel has filed $250 million defamation lawsuit against the Atlantic
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) April 20, 2026
Filed here in DC pic.twitter.com/vcMxnHtxuG
Here's the 19-page civil complaint from Kash Patel against The Atlantic
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) April 20, 2026
Patel claims "Defendants published the Article with actual malice, despite being expressly warned, hours before publication, that the central allegations were categorically false"https://t.co/e8ZbRp4NO3
Will some activist judge step in to try and throw this lawsuit out?
I hope he bankrupts them. https://t.co/LeXDCFg7GG
— Insurrection Barbie (@DefiyantlyFree) April 20, 2026
Stay tuned!
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