US President Donald Trump’s FBI Director, Kash Patel, has threatened legal action against The Atlantic following the publication of a report that alleges he has an alcohol problem and fears losing his job. Patel expressed his discontent on X, accusing the magazine of spreading “fake news” and vowing to pursue a “legal lay up” against its “entire entourage of false reporting.” His legal team had previously warned The Atlantic not to publish the article, labeling the claims as “categorically false and defamatory.”
The Atlantic’s report, released on Friday, cited “two dozen” unnamed officials and insiders who raised concerns about Patel’s conduct. According to the article, Patel’s security detail has reportedly struggled to wake him after drinking sessions, he has missed briefings, and at times has been “unreachable behind closed doors.” Some sources described his behavior as a potential “national-security vulnerability.”
In defense of the reporting, author Sarah Fitzpatrick appeared on MSNBC’s “The Briefing,” asserting that she stands by every word of the article and has “excellent attorneys.” The piece also highlighted Patel’s alleged job insecurity following the recent firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi, a Trump loyalist who was dismissed amid bipartisan criticism regarding her handling of Epstein files.
Patel’s lawyer, Jesse R. Binnall of the Binnall Law Group, issued a letter demanding that The Atlantic preserve all communications related to the story, including information about anonymous sources. This legal dispute underscores the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and media outlets regarding the coverage of senior officials.
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