FBI Director Kash Patel announced he is filing a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic magazine.
The lawsuit follows a report by The Atlantic alleging Patel is deeply paranoid about being fired and frequently drinks to excess, raising concerns among officials.
Patel vehemently denied the allegations on Fox News, calling the report “fake news” and an “indirect attack” on the FBI.
The Atlantic journalist, Sarah Fitzpatrick, has stood by her reporting, stating the publication has “excellent attorneys” and that White House officials are discussing Patel's potential replacement.
The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, defended Patel's leadership, while FBI officials and Patel's adviser also dismissed the article as 'completely false' and unverified.