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.

  • dellish@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Prediction: they reach the discovery phase and Kash drops the whole thing when he realises how much of his life and character will be exposed.

    Not even a prediction really, more like a certainty.

    • stoly@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      It won’t go that far. He’s a public figure so only actual malice by the reporter and magazine is actionable.

    • orbitz@lemmy.ca
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      3 days ago

      But they got the news out he was fighting, so looks good for them even when the case is dropped. Just like Trump. Though Trump has enough money getting to this part is cheap, wonder how Patel will fare. Though I assume he has income available for this but I’d keep an eye on fbi expenses that will pay for this.