FBI Director Kash Patel Files $250 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against the Atlantic, Which Calls Suit ‘Meritless’

Home Digital News Apr 20, 2026 8:17am PT FBI Director Kash Patel Files $250 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against the Atlantic, Which Calls Suit ‘Meritless’ By Todd Spangler Plus Icon Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor xpangler Latest Catherine O’Hara Rewrote Entire Scenes for ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ Dan Levy Reveals: ‘She Was Just an Irreplaceable Talent and an Irreplaceable Person’ 56 minutes ago ‘Lemme Say This’ Pop-Culture Podcast Is Returning Under Pact With Obamas’ Higher Ground (EXCLUSIVE) 2 hours ago Parent Company of QVC and HSN Files for Bankruptcy: What Does It Mean for Customers, and What Happens Next? 3 days ago See All Getty Images Kash Patel, the director of the FBI, filed a lawsuit against the Atlantic over a story alleging that he “has alarmed colleagues with episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences.” Patel’s suit seeks $250 million in damages. In a statement Monday, the Atlantic said: “We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel, and we will vigorously defend The Atlantic and our journalists against this meritless lawsuit.” Related Stories 'Roommates' Review: Besties Turn Testy in an Uneven College Comedy With Two Terrific Leads