From Newsgroup: alt.politics.media

April 20 (Reuters) - FBI Director Kash Patel filed a defamation lawsuit
against 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.

The magazine's story, initially titled rCLKash Patel's Erratic Behavior
Could Cost Him His Job," cited more than two ?dozen anonymous sources expressing concern about PatelrCOs rCLconspicuous inebriation and
unexplained absencesrCY that rCLalarmed officials at the FBI and the
Department of Justice.rCY

The article, which the Atlantic subsequently titled rCLThe FBI Director Is MIArCY in its online version, reported that during PatelrCOs tenure, the FBI had to reschedule early meetings rCLas a result of his alcohol-fueled
nightsrCY and that Patel rCLis often away or unreachable, delaying time-sensitive decisions needed to advance investigations.rCY

In 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, rCLPrint it, all false, IrCOll see you in courtrCobring your checkbook.rCY

rCLThe Atlantic's story is a lie,rCY ?Patel said in an interview with
Reuters. rCLThey were given the truth before they published, and they
chose to print falsehoods anyway.rCY

https://www.reuters.com/world/fbi-director-kash-patel-sues-atlantic-court -records-show-2026-04-20/

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