“FBI Director Kash Patel sues The Atlantic, reporter for $250M over story alleging excess drinking, mysterious absences”

“Filed on Monday in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, the lawsuit, which seeks $250 million, claims the magazine’s story, initially titled “Kash Patel’s Erratic Behavior Could Cost Him His Job,” is “categorically false and defamatory.””

“The Atlantic, which published its exposé on Friday, cited more than two dozen anonymous sources expressing concern at Patel’s “conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences” that “alarmed officials at the FBI and the Department of Justice.””

“The story — the title of which now reads, “The FBI Director Is MIA” — reported that during Patel’s tenure, the FBI had to reschedule early meetings “as a result of his alcohol-fueled nights” and that Patel “is often away or unreachable, delaying time-sensitive decisions needed to advance investigations.””

“The White House, the Department of Justice and Patel denied the allegations to the magazine.”

“Patel’s suit alleged that The Atlantic ignored the FBI’s denials and did not respond to a Friday letter from his lawyer Jesse Binnall to senior editors and The Atlantic’s legal department, asking for more time to refute allegations in 19 questions that Fitzpatrick sent White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.”

“The journo’s letter was sent shortly before 4 p.m. Friday and the story was published at 6:20 p.m. that day, according to the complaint.”

“Lawyers for Patel claim that the Atlantic acted with “actual malice” — a legal standard that requires public figures such as Patel to prove that the magazine publisher knowingly printed false information or recklessly ignored doubts about its accuracy.”