Alexis Wilkins, the girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, has reportedly filed a defamation lawsuit against MS Now, accusing the network of publishing false claims about her and her relationship with the FBI chief.
The lawsuit centers on a report published by MS Now in December that alleged Patel directed an FBI security detail to escort one of Wilkins’ friends home following what the report described as a night of partying in Nashville. The story, written by journalists Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian, relied on multiple anonymous sources.
According to the report, Patel instructed the security team assigned to protect Wilkins to assist one of her allegedly intoxicated friends after the evening concluded. The claim quickly generated attention because it involved the use of government resources and raised questions about the responsibilities of a security detail assigned to senior federal officials.
At the time the story was published, the FBI strongly denied the allegation.
“This is made up and did not happen,” an FBI spokesperson said in response to the report.
Now, months later, Wilkins is taking the dispute to court. In her lawsuit, the country music singer argues that criticism of public officials and government operations is fair game, but says the media crossed a line by publishing information she claims is false.
“Journalists and the public are free to comment on the leadership of the FBI and its allocation of resources, whether positively or negatively,” Wilkins wrote as part of the filing. “They are not, however, entitled to lie about it.”
The lawsuit represents the latest chapter in an ongoing clash between supporters of Patel and media organizations that have closely scrutinized his tenure as FBI director. Since taking office, Patel has faced questions from Democrats and government watchdog groups regarding his overseas travel and reports that have raised concerns about his drinking habits.
MS Now has been among the outlets devoting significant attention to those issues. The progressive cable channel and media organization, owned by Comcast spinoff Versant, has expanded its news-gathering operation in recent months and pursued aggressive reporting focused on President Trump’s FBI under Patel’s leadership.
The network is standing by its reporting despite the lawsuit.
In a statement provided to The Hill, MS Now President Rebecca Kutler said the organization remains confident in the story.
“We stand firmly behind MS NOW’s reporting,” Kutler said. “As a general matter of practice, we don’t comment on ongoing legal matters.”
The legal battle now shifts to federal court, where a judge will ultimately determine whether the report met the standards of protected journalism or whether Wilkins’ claims of defamation have merit.
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson, a Trump appointee serving in Nashville.
The dispute highlights the growing tensions between major media organizations and high-profile figures in government, particularly as political divisions continue to shape debates over journalism, anonymous sourcing, and accountability. As the lawsuit moves forward, both sides appear prepared for a lengthy fight over the accuracy of the reporting and the limits of press freedom in covering public officials and those connected to them.
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