Kash Patel’s Defamation Lawsuits Against the Media: A Seven-Year Campaign

Since 2019, Kash Patel—former White House aide and current FBI director—has initiated at least six defamation actions against news organizations and a blogger. The 2019 suits targeted Politico, The New York Times, and CNN for coverage of his role in the Trump administration’s Ukraine dealings. In 2023, Patel sued blogger Jim Stewartson for $10 million after the latter called him a “chud.” In April 2024, Patel sued The Atlantic, demanding $250 million in damages over an article reporting alarm about his “erratic” behavior and alleged heavy drinking. No settlement or favorable verdict has been reported.

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Patel’s litigation approach mirrors that of former President Donald Trump, who employed civil suits to contest press coverage. Patel served as a White House aide to Trump before being appointed director of the FBI. The news outlets—Politico, The New York Times, CNN, and The Atlantic—have each defended their reporting as protected speech. Legal analysts have raised questions about his objectives. Trump has long turned to the courts when faced with press criticism, a strategy Patel appears to emulate.

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• 2019: Defamation suits filed against Politico, The New York Times, and CNN.

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• 2023: $10 million suit against blogger Jim Stewartson.

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• April 2024: $250 million suit against The Atlantic.

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• 2026: Reports confirm at least six defamation actions remain unresolved.

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Number of suits: >= 6. Monetary demands: $10 million (blogger) and $250 million (The Atlantic). Outcomes: No settlements; no favorable verdicts.

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The lawsuits involve First Amendment defenses by the media, with defendants asserting that the claims target their reporting, which they say is protected. The First Amendment provides a constitutional shield for reporting on public officials, a principle invoked in each of the pending cases.

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All sued organizations have affirmed that their coverage adheres to editorial standards and is shielded by the First Amendment. The Atlantic reported alarm among some colleagues about Patel’s “erratic” behavior and alleged heavy drinking. Each organization has asserted that its reporting falls within the scope of protected speech.

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Legal scholars note that many of Patel’s complaints have remained dormant, raising questions about his objectives. Critics highlight the absence of settlements or favorable verdicts after several years. Sources differ on the exact total of defamation actions, describing the count only as “at least six,” and procedural statuses of the pending cases remain limited. Patel filed complaints that have languished in civil litigation, a trajectory noted by legal experts.

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• “It’s time that I began fighting back.” — Kash Patel, 2019 statement.

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• “chud.” — Jim Stewartson, 2023 blog post.

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Patel’s lawsuits remain pending as of mid-2026. The cases continue to move through the federal court system.

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