FBI Investigates Reporter Behind Kash Patel Drinking Allegations Amid Defamation Lawsuit

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has initiated a leak investigation targeting The Atlantic reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick, who authored a report last month detailing allegations of Kash Patel’s excessive drinking and unexplained absences.

According to two anonymous sources familiar with the matter, Fitzpatrick’s reporting claimed Patel was known to consume alcohol excessively, frequently delayed meetings, and was often unreachable. The investigation, as described by the sources, differs from standard leak probes because it centers on leaks to a reporter rather than classified information being leaked from an agency.

“They know they are not supposed to do this,” one source told MS NOW. “But if they don’t go forward, they could lose their jobs. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

Following the publication of Fitzpatrick’s article, Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic, alleging the story contained “false and obviously fabricated allegations designed to destroy Director Patel’s reputation and drive him from office.”

In response to inquiries about the investigation, FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson stated:

“This is completely false. No such investigation like this exists and the reporter you mention is not being investigated at all.”

Williamson added, “Every time there’s a publication of false claims by anonymous sources that gets called out, the media plays the victim via investigations that do not exist.”

The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg issued a statement to MS NOW:

“We will have further comment when we learn more. If true, this would be an outrageous, illegal, and dangerous attack on the free press and the First Amendment. We will defend Sarah and all of our reporters who are subjected to government harassment simply for pursuing the truth.”

This remains a developing story.