US President Donald Trump’s FBI Director Kash Patel has threatened legal action against The Atlantic after the magazine published a report alleging he has an alcohol problem and fears losing his job.
Patel took to X on Saturday, accusing the publication of “fake news” and promising a “legal lay up” against its “entire entourage of false reporting.” His legal team had previously warned The Atlantic not to publish the article, calling the claims “categorically false and defamatory.”
The Atlantic’s report, published Friday, cited “two dozen” unnamed officials and insiders who raised concerns about Patel’s conduct. According to the article, Patel’s security detail has struggled to wake him after drinking sessions, he has missed briefings, and has sometimes been “unreachable behind closed doors.” Some sources described his behavior as a “national-security vulnerability.”
Author Sarah Fitzpatrick defended the reporting on MSNBC’s “The Briefing,” stating she stands by every word and has “excellent attorneys.” The piece also noted Patel’s alleged job insecurity following the recent firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi, a Trump loyalist dismissed amid bipartisan criticism over her handling of Epstein files.
Patel’s lawyer, Jesse R. Binnall of the Binnall Law Group, published a letter demanding The Atlantic preserve all communications related to the story, including details about anonymous sources. The legal battle highlights tensions between the Trump administration and media outlets over coverage of senior officials.
