Kash Patel’s lawsuit against news pundit tossed by judge amid FBI director’s tumultuous week

Politics
22 Apr 2026 • 11:06 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • FBI Director Kash Patel's defamation lawsuit against MS NOW pundit Frank Figliuzzi has been dismissed by a Texas court.
  • Patel had sued Figliuzzi for suggesting he spent more time in nightclubs than at the FBI headquarters, a claim Patel vehemently denied.
  • US District Court Judge George Hanks Jr ruled that Figliuzzi's remark was “rhetorical hyperbole” and not a statement of actual fact, therefore not defamatory.
  • This development coincides with Patel launching an unrelated $250 million defamation suit against The Atlantic magazine over a profile alleging excessive drinking.
  • Amidst rumors of his potential dismissal by Donald Trump, Patel has also claimed to possess evidence supporting the 2020 election fraud allegations, while a petition calls for an inquiry into his conduct.

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