Kash Patel files $250M defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic
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FBI director Kash Patel sued The Atlantic and one of its reporters, alleging they defamed him when the outlet published a story last week alleging he has an excessive drinking habit and a pattern of "erratic" behavior.
Why it matters: The piece drew swift reactions from Democrats, who called on Patel to resign.
State of play: The lawsuit alleges The Atlantic acted with "actual malice" in publishing the story, in part because it was "expressly warned, hours before publication, that the central allegations were categorically false."
- It also targets the publication and the story's author for having "fatal defects in their own sourcing."
- The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of Patel as a private citizen and a resident of Nevada.
- Patel seeks $250 million in damages.
Between the lines: The bar to prove "actual malice" when covering a public figure is extremely high, and courts have repeatedly upheld that standard throughout defamation lawsuits during the Trump administration.
- A spokesperson for 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."
The big picture: The Trump administration and the president have a losing track record when it comes to legal entanglements with the media.
