Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

LetMyPeopleVote

(180,706 posts)
29. MaddowBlog-Confronting ugly allegations, FBI Director Kash Patel files new $250 million lawsuit
Mon Apr 20, 2026, 05:03 PM
22 hrs ago

The Atlantic reported that FBI personnel have expressed concerns about the director’s unexplained absences and excessive drinking. He sued a few days later.



https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/patel-lawsuit-the-atlantic-fbi-report

FBI Director Kash Patel, last seen by much of the public partying with the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team after they won the gold in February, has struggled badly for much of his tenure. But The Atlantic cast Patel’s troubles in a new light with a brutal new report on Friday, alleging that FBI personnel have expressed concerns about the director’s unexplained absences and excessive drinking, which have alarmed colleagues and his security detail.....

Patel and his lawyer wasted little time in condemning the reporting as “false” and vowing to file a lawsuit against the publication and the award-winning reporter who wrote the story, Sarah Fitzpatrick.

On Monday morning, he did exactly that, filing a $250 million defamation lawsuit.....

When host Maria Bartiromo asked, for example, for his response to allegations that he has a drinking problem, Patel didn’t answer directly, though his response heralded “President Trump’s brilliant leadership.”

BARTIROMO: The Atlantic alleges you have a drinking problem. What's your response?

KASH PATEL: The results speak for the themselves. If the fake news mafia isn't hitting you personally w/baseless information, then you're not doing your job. This FBI under President Trump's brilliant leadership ...

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-04-19T14:34:21.506Z


As part of the same interview, the FBI director went on to claim that the bureau has “information” that bolsters Trump’s conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election, adding, “We are going to be making arrests. And it’s coming, and I promise you, it’s coming soon.”

In reality, there is no evidence to support of the president’s discredited conspiracy theories — he lost in 2020, fair and square — as Patel likely knows. But if The Atlantic’s reporting is correct, and the director is “deeply concerned that his job is in jeopardy,” he also likely knows that there’s no better way to bolster his job security than going on Fox News and vowing to arrest the president’s perceived political enemies while defending Trump’s weird claims about his 2020 defeat.

Discovery in this case will be fun

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Discovery should be fun. He'd basically defame himself. underpants Sunday #1
I'll bring the popcorn! Talitha Sunday #10
My flask and I will see you in court! tanyev Sunday #2
My name is Sue. BattleRow Sunday #11
He's on his way out JBTaurus83 Sunday #3
Or was of a foreign partisan persuasion,initially . BattleRow Sunday #12
as if shitstain actually cared about his brother dave99 Sunday #13
I don't think he cared about him JBTaurus83 Sunday #14
He didn't deny the accuracy of the story, BTW. Just said he'll sue. nt wiggs Sunday #4
Whenever one of these "denials" JBTaurus83 Sunday #6
Who's paying for his legal representation? Us? nt wiggs Sunday #5
Believe it or not, he has a law degree FakeNoose Sunday #8
Further proof JBTaurus83 Sunday #9
Before or after he gets fired? ToxMarz Yesterday #18
Good luck with that Faux pas Sunday #7
"Laying down?" LisaM Sunday #15
I know NJCher Yesterday #20
The deposition will be interesting. 3Hotdogs Sunday #16
Mr. Patel how much money and time have you spent in "The Poodle Room" on your weekends in a Vegas? Botany Yesterday #23
No Kash, these are not indirect attacks on the men and women of the FBI - just you. Marie Marie Sunday #17
so we have NJCher Yesterday #19
You summed it up perfectly JBTaurus83 Yesterday #21
Kash Patel sloshes his way into the courtroom. Slurring every third word rpannier Yesterday #22
The Atlantic is Ali and keystone is a 7 year old thinking this is a slap fight. Javaman Yesterday #24
What is this "we" and "we're" stuff? It's just going to be about YOU asshat Bengus81 Yesterday #25
Wjo thinks he will actually sue them? SSJVegeta Yesterday #26
Has he found the kidnapped grandmother yet? Johonny Yesterday #27
Sounds good Kashyap -- see you at Discovery Blue Owl Yesterday #28
MaddowBlog-Confronting ugly allegations, FBI Director Kash Patel files new $250 million lawsuit LetMyPeopleVote 22 hrs ago #29
As has been pointed out orangecrush 22 hrs ago #30
... orangecrush 22 hrs ago #31
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»"I'll see you in court!' ...»Reply #29