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Story summary
- FBI Director Kash Patel ordered his team to locate and reply to online accounts criticizing him.
- National security journalist Seth Hettena disclosed documents showing Patel’s directive in February.
- Assistant Director Ben Williamson warned Patel that responding to the troll post would look bad.
- Patel cited 277,000 responses, confusing them with the post’s 492 comments, 1,000 reposts, and 16,000 likes.
- Patel’s defamation lawsuit against the Atlantic remains pending after the outlet’s July motion to dismiss.
