Story perspectives

FBI Ends NYT Reporter Probe; DOJ Calls It Retaliatory

4/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

FBI ended its inquiry into New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson’s story on Director Kash Patel’s girlfriend, saying no case will be pursued.
Justice Department officials blocked the probe, calling it retaliatory and without legal basis.
FBI agents interviewed Alexis Wilkins after she received a death threat linked to the article.
Press-freedom groups and House Judiciary Committee members condemned the investigation as a First Amendment violation.

History

Historical Context

The 1971 Supreme Court case New York Times Co. v. United States, known as the Pentagon Papers case, upheld press freedom by allowing the publication of classified documents without government censorship. This ruling emphasized the First Amendment's protection against prior restraint, a principle that remains relevant today amid ongoing tensions between government actions and journalistic rights, as seen in recent inquiries into press reporting.

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Story summary

FBI ended its inquiry into New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson’s story on Director Kash Patel’s girlfriend, saying no case will be pursued.
Justice Department officials blocked the probe, calling it retaliatory and without legal basis.
FBI agents interviewed Alexis Wilkins after she received a death threat linked to the article.
Press-freedom groups and House Judiciary Committee members condemned the investigation as a First Amendment violation.

1 / 2