Kash Patel suffers major blow in $250 million defamation lawsuit after article claiming he has ‘excessive drinking problem’

A federal judge has temporarily blocked FBI Director Kash Patel from pursuing most discovery in his $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic. The ruling is an early procedural win for the magazine, but does not dismiss Patel’s case; the judge cited First Amendment concerns and potential prejudice while considering what should happen next.

Patel sued The Atlantic and staff writer Sarah Fitzpatrick in April over a report citing anonymous FBI employees who alleged excessive drinking, unexplained absences and occasions when he was unreachable. The article also said his alleged drinking prompted the bureau to use SWAT equipment to break down a door at least once. Patel denies the claims, and his lawyers called the reporting false and fabricated.