FBI Investigates Atlantic Reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick Over Critical Patel Story

The FBI is facing scrutiny after reports emerged that it launched a federal criminal investigation into Atlantic reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick over a story she published last month about FBI Director Kash Patel. The investigation, first reported by MS NOW on Wednesday, centers on a piece that described Patel as paranoid, frequently intoxicated, and unfit for his role.

The story, which cited more than two dozen sources, did not include any classified information. However, the reported focus on Fitzpatrick rather than her sources has raised concerns about the investigation’s motives. The FBI has denied the existence of such an inquiry.

On the same day, Fitzpatrick published a follow-up report detailing Patel’s habit of distributing personalized bottles of bourbon engraved with his name and, at times, his signature.

Press Freedom Under Scrutiny

The reported investigation into Fitzpatrick is part of a broader pattern of press suppression under the second Trump administration. Earlier this year, the FBI dropped an investigation into a New York Times reporter who had covered Patel and his girlfriend’s alleged misuse of FBI resources. Additionally, Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson had her devices seized in a leak investigation targeting one of her sources. Notably, Natanson’s reporting earned her a Pulitzer Prize this week.

Political Context and Recent FBI Actions

Wednesday also saw the FBI raid the office of Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas, a Democrat who led a redistricting effort that has hindered Trump’s midterm election strategies. While the case reportedly involves corruption allegations, the timing has drawn attention given Trump’s history of using investigations to target political opponents.

Key Details of the Fitzpatrick Investigation:

• Target: Atlantic reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick
• Focus: Her reporting on FBI Director Kash Patel’s alleged personal conduct
• Sources: Over two dozen unnamed individuals
• No classified information was included in the story
• FBI response: Denies the existence of the investigation

Additional FBI Developments

In unrelated news, the FBI also seized devices from Hannah Natanson of the Washington Post earlier this year as part of a leak investigation. Natanson’s work was later recognized with a Pulitzer Prize.

Meanwhile, the FBI raided the office of Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas, a Democrat who played a key role in a redistricting effort that has limited Trump’s electoral advantages ahead of the midterms. The case reportedly involves corruption allegations, though critics question the timing given Trump’s history of leveraging investigations against political adversaries.