FBI Director Kash Patel is suing The Atlantic for $250 million over a report published Friday that alleged he drinks excessively and has had unexplained absences from bureau headquarters. The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, characterizes the magazine's story as a "sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece."
The Atlantic's article, written by Sarah Fitzpatrick, opened with an anecdote about Patel being locked out of an internal FBI computer system on April 10. According to the magazine's reporting, based on nine sources, the incident prompted Patel to contact aides and allies because he believed he had been fired by the White House.
Patel's legal team does not dispute that the computer lockout occurred, but characterizes it as routine. The lawsuit describes it as "a routine technical problem logging into a government system, which was quickly fixed." The incident nevertheless triggered inquiries from news outlets, including NBC News, about whether Patel still held his job. Administration officials denied the firing rumors at the time.
The lawsuit directly contests the Atlantic's framing of Patel's reaction, denying he "panicked" or engaged in what the magazine described as a "freak-out." It also states that the FBI informed The Atlantic before publication that talk of Patel's firing was a "made-up rumor."
Beyond the computer incident, Patel's attorneys claim the article contains numerous false statements. They argue the FBI director is at headquarters "nearly every single day," and when away, visits field offices more frequently than his predecessors. The lawsuit points to Patel's public social media as independently verifiable proof of his schedule.
The suit flatly denies claims about excessive drinking. "Director Patel does not drink to excess" at the establishments mentioned in the article "or anywhere else, and this has not, and has never been, a source of concern across the government," the legal filing states.
Patel's legal team, led by attorney Jesse Binnall, also pushes back on suggestions that Patel has targeted political rivals or personal enemies through personnel decisions. The lawsuit maintains that "FBI personnel actions are taken only where employees have acted unethically or undermined the mission." Patel has fired multiple FBI employees who were involved in investigations into President Donald Trump, and several have filed lawsuits challenging their terminations.
The lawsuit characterizes the article's anonymous sources as "partisans with axes to grind and are not in a position to know the facts."
When asked about the allegations on Fox Business Sunday, Patel told host Maria Bartiromo, "I'm happy to announce on your show that we're not going to take this laying down. You want to attack my character, come at me. Bring it on. I'll see you in court."
Binnall said in a statement that "Defamatory speech is not free speech, and it is an honor to represent Kash Patel in this lawsuit seeking accountability for The Atlantic article's malicious falsehoods."
The Atlantic stands firm on its reporting. The magazine's senior vice president of communications, Anna Bross, responded with a statement Monday: "We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel, and we will vigorously defend The Atlantic and our journalists against this meritless lawsuit."
Patel became FBI director in February 2025 following Senate confirmation in a largely party-line vote. The role has not always run smoothly. In February, Patel drew attention while celebrating with the U.S. men's hockey team in a Milan Cortina Winter Olympics locker room after their victory over Canada. Video footage showed Patel chugging a beer and spraying it into the air, and in another clip, opening a tall boy can while Trump spoke to the team via speakerphone. NBC News reported at the time, citing a person familiar with the matter, that Trump expressed disappointment with Patel over the incident.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Patel's lawsuit hinges on painting his accusers as enemies with an agenda, but the beer-chugging Olympics footage muddies his credibility on the drinking allegations specifically."
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