Multiple reports say the FBI is examining whether information was leaked to The Atlantic reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick in connection with her reporting about FBI Director Kash Patel’s alleged heavy drinking and related workplace concerns. MSNBC and MS NOW describe an FBI criminal leak investigation focused on whether someone provided information to Fitzpatrick before publication of her article. PBS NewsHour likewise reports that the FBI reportedly launched a criminal investigation into potential leaks to the reporter and points to Fitzpatrick’s reporting that Patel’s “excessive drinking” raised deep concerns about his ability to do his job.
Other coverage adds that Patel filed a US$250 million lawsuit last month against The Atlantic and Fitzpatrick, characterizing the story as defamatory. Some accounts also report Patel may have distributed branded bourbon on government aircraft, though the specific provenance of those details is not consistent across reports. In contrast, Mediaite cites a Friday X post from journalist Catherine Herridge stating the FBI denies the existence of a criminal leak investigation into Fitzpatrick. Overall, the reporting centers on whether the FBI is investigating alleged leaks tied to the article and Patel’s legal response to it.
