FBI Director Kash Patel has filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic and staff writer Sarah Fitzpatrick, alleging their recent article contained false claims of excessive drinking and unexplained absences. The article, which cited numerous anonymous sources, described Patel’s behavior as erratic and a national-security vulnerability, including accounts of intoxication and a dramatic misunderstanding about being fired. The Atlantic has stated it stands by its reporting and will defend itself against the lawsuit, while Patel’s legal team claims the publication deliberately engineered a timeline to prevent a proper response and made a “stealth edit” to the article’s headline.
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FBI Director Kash Patel is suing The Atlantic for defamation, alleging the magazine published a “sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece” containing fabricated allegations. The lawsuit seeks to hold the defendants accountable for false claims about excessive drinking, unexplained absences, and the need for breaching equipment due to his unresponsiveness. Patel maintains that these accusations are categorically false and were published with actual malice, despite being warned before publication. The Atlantic, however, stands by its reporting and vows to vigorously defend against the lawsuit, acknowledging the high legal standard required for public figures to prove defamation.
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In defamation cases involving public figures, the plaintiff bears the burden of demonstrating that a statement was not only factually inaccurate but also that the publisher acted with actual malice. This requires proof that the publisher knew of the falsity of the statement or exhibited a reckless disregard for its truth. Therefore, establishing actual malice is a high bar, demanding evidence of the publisher’s state of mind regarding the accuracy of their claims.
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US civil rights lawyer and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong expressed disgust after the White House digitally altered an image of her arrest to depict her in tears. Levy Armstrong was detained for organizing a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a Minnesota church. This manipulated image has led to significant backlash against the White House.
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In the ongoing defamation lawsuit filed by Donald Trump against the Pulitzer Prize Board, the defendants have submitted extensive discovery demands in court documents. These demands, outlined in a 12-page filing, require Trump to provide a wide range of documents including tax returns, financial records, and health information dating back to 2015. The defendants are seeking documentation related to Trump’s actions and statements concerning the Pulitzer Prizes and the reporting on the Russia probe, as well as information about other legal actions involving Trump. The board claims their statement defending the prizes constitutes “actionable mixed opinion” as the case continues.
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In a surprising turn of events, the Pulitzer Prize board has demanded President Trump’s medical and financial records as part of a defamation lawsuit he filed in 2022. The board, defending its reporting on Russian interference in the 2016 election, has requested all of Trump’s tax returns from 2015 to the present, in addition to health records, including medication history, within 30 days. This move comes as Trump’s physical and mental fitness has been questioned, particularly as he is 79 years old. The case, which Trump’s legal team says is about “correcting the record”, involves the Pulitzer board’s efforts to defend their reporting that Trump alleges is false.
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A federal appeals court panel upheld the dismissal of Donald Trump’s $475 million defamation lawsuit against CNN, deeming his claims “unpersuasive” and “meritless.” The lawsuit stemmed from CNN’s use of the term “the Big Lie” to describe Trump’s claims of election fraud, a phrase the court found did not constitute a false statement of fact. The court rejected Trump’s argument, stating that the term was a subjective interpretation of his actions. This marks another legal defeat for Trump in his attempts to sue media outlets over their coverage of his claims.
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Internal surveys from Fox News employees, released as part of a defamation lawsuit, revealed concerns about the network’s editorial standards and the conduct of prominent hosts. Anonymous employees expressed worries that the network favored Donald Trump and the Republican Party, with some questioning their morals and the network’s integrity. These comments, drawn from a 2020 survey, reflect a desire for more factual reporting and less “hateful rhetoric,” particularly from opinion hosts. Despite these concerns, Fox maintains the responses are irrelevant to the lawsuit’s focus on the 2020 election coverage and that the company had been previously certified as a good place to work.
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Following the dismissal of his initial defamation lawsuit, Donald Trump has filed an amended 40-page complaint against The New York Times, Penguin Random House, and two reporters, while maintaining a $15 billion compensatory damages claim and seeking punitive damages. The amended complaint presents an itemized list of allegations, referencing specific publications and statements. The suit, filed in Florida, revises a previous suit that was dismissed due to its excessive length and redundant content. The legal action pertains to news articles and a book discussing Trump’s work on “The Apprentice” and his inheritance, alleging factual inaccuracies in the reporting.
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A judge has dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group regarding Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us.” The judge determined that Lamar’s lyrics, which accused Drake of being a “certified pedophile,” were “nonactionable opinion” within the context of a rap battle. Drake’s spokesperson confirmed plans to appeal the ruling, while UMG expressed satisfaction with the outcome. The judge highlighted the ongoing feud as a “war of words” and noted that Drake’s earlier song, “Taylor Made Freestyle,” invited Lamar to make the very accusations featured in “Not Like Us.”
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John Q. Hosedrinker