FBI probing access to Reporter who wrote about Director Patel’s drinking

Trump admin doing like media stories about them that are negitive….

Actually?

Most President’s don’t….

But other President’s have NOT been as STRONGLY active against going after those who write about them…

Court’s tend to NOT entertain criminal or civil charges against the media….

 

The FBI has launched a criminal leak investigation focusing on an Atlantic magazine journalist who wrote a deeply unflattering account last month of Director Kash Patel’s work habits, two people familiar with the matter told MS NOW.

The sources said the so-called insider threat investigation is highly unusual because it did not stem from a disclosure of classified information and because it is focused on leaks to a reporter. The agents involved are part of an insider threats unit based in Huntsville, Alabama, the sources added.

Typically, leak investigations look into government officials who may have disclosed state secrets or classified documents. Journalists who receive and publish such information have typically only been involved as potential witnesses.

The journalist, Sarah Fitzpatrick, cited two dozen anonymous sources in a detailed story reporting that Patel’s alcohol consumption and erratic behavior had caused deep concern among FBI officials. Patel was known to drink to the point of intoxication, she reported, adding that on occasion his security detail had trouble waking him in the morning.

Patel immediately sued the Atlantic, saying the story contained falsehoods and claiming he had been defamed. The magazine and Fitzpatrick stood by her reporting, saying they had received additional corroboration after it was published….

…

There is deep concern about this approach among some of the FBI agents assigned to the matter, said the sources, who were granted anonymity in order to speak freely about a sensitive matter.

“They know they are not supposed to do this,” one source said. “But if they don’t go forward, they could lose their jobs.  You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”….

More…

Note…

This is complicated by the fact that Patel is NOT well liked within the bureau. where his issues seem to be well known…