FBI Director Kash Patel Denies Using FBI to Target NYT Reporter Over Girlfriend Story

FBI Director Kash Patel has forcefully rejected a New York Times report alleging that the FBI investigated one of its reporters following a story about his girlfriend. Patel called the report “absolutely false” and accused the newspaper of running a “baseless” narrative.

Speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity on February 28, Patel denied using the FBI to target Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson over her February 28 article. The story detailed Patel’s approval of government security and travel arrangements for his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins. Patel claimed the Times reporting triggered threats against his girlfriend’s life and framed the investigation as an attempt to discredit past reporting.

“We are going to protect not only me and my loved ones, but every American that is threatened,” Patel said. “The baseless New York Times came in over the top today and tried to delete that past reporting, refused to accept our comments and refused to turn the attention to the actual court pleadings and the myriad of threats that have resulted to me and mine based on this baseless reporting.”

The Times’s reporting brings important and concerning facts to public light, and we are confident in the accuracy of our article.

Executive editor Joe Kahn responded by calling the investigation “a blatant violation of Elizabeth’s First Amendment rights and another attempt by this administration to prevent journalists from scrutinizing its actions.” The Times report did not claim Patel personally ordered the inquiry. Instead, it stated that FBI agents searched databases for information on Williamson after Wilkins told agents in an interview that Williamson’s actions left her feeling harassed. Agents pursued the case to determine whether the reporter violated federal stalking statutes. The Justice Department ultimately closed the inquiry, with some officials reportedly viewing it as “retaliation.”

Patel’s remarks followed his $250 million lawsuit against The Atlantic earlier in the week over a story alleging excessive drinking and job performance concerns.

Press Freedom Groups Condemn Alleged FBI Retaliation

Press freedom advocates criticized Patel and the FBI after the Times report. Seth Stern, chief of advocacy for the Freedom of the Press Foundation, stated:

“You know the FBI is off the rails if even lawyers in Trump’s Department of Justice had to warn them that their retaliatory investigation lacked legal merit. It’s outrageous that a sober-minded FBI would even consider a theory that reporting methods like phone calls and emails might constitute stalking. That would be offensive even if the case didn’t involve the FBI’s own director.”

Reporters Without Borders condemned the agents’ actions as a desperate response to a story embarrassing Patel. The organization said:

“This ongoing, un-American harassment of journalists eerily echoes the Bureau’s darkest days. It’s time for Patel to cash out and resign.”

During the interview, Hannity directly challenged Patel: “I'm reading that you used the FBI because you didn't like a story.”