FBI Director Patel sues The Atlantic magazine for 'hit piece' alleging excessive drinking

FBI Director Kash Patel made good Monday on his vow over the weekend to sue the owners of The Atlantic magazine for what he calls a "sweeping, malicious and defamatory hit piece" in which alleges he abuses alcohol. 

Staff writer Sarah Fitzpatrick is also listed as a defendant in the case filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colombia. 

Patel in the 19-page suit also says the Atlantic Monthly Group LLC and Fitzpatrick are "of course free to criticize the leadership of the FBI, but they crossed the legal line by publishing an article replete with false and obviously fabricated allegations designed to destroy" his reputation and drive him from office. He seeks $250 million in damages

The suit also states Fitzpatrick "could not get a single person to go on the record in defense of these outrageous allegations, instead relying entirely on anonymous sources she knew to be both highly partisan with an ax to grind and also not in a position to know the facts."

The story published Friday cites over two dozen unnamed sources and includes allegations that Patel frequently drinks to the point of conspicuous intoxication and that his security detail has at times struggled to wake him due to apparent inebriation.