Overview
- Patel, the FBI director, filed the defamation suit Monday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., naming The Atlantic and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick.
- The Atlantic story, published Friday, alleged episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences and cited more than two dozen anonymous current and former officials.
- Patel and the FBI denied the claims, with the lawsuit listing 17 statements it says are false and accusing the magazine of publishing with actual malice.
- The complaint says editors ignored a detailed prepublication rebuttal sent by Patel’s lawyer hours before the article ran and refused more time to respond.
- The Atlantic says it stands by its reporting and will defend the story, setting up a court fight likely to scrutinize anonymous sourcing and newsroom vetting practices.