Typos, misspellings discovered in high-profile defamation lawsuit filed by FBI director Kashi Pateldespite the case alleging poor journalistic standards at a major publication, including accusations that Patel drank too much and missed important meetings.The 19-page complaint, filed this week in federal court in Washington, D.C., targets The Atlantic and one of its reporters, accusing them of knowingly publishing false and defamatory statements about Patel. He is seeking at least $250 million in damages, arguing that the magazine acted with “actual malice.”However, a review of the document revealed some basic spelling and editing errors. Among them, use “feable” instead of “feeble”, use “politics” instead of “policies”, and use “discussed” instead of “discussed”. The errors did not affect the substance of the case, but they stand out in a lawsuit that repeatedly emphasizes accuracy.Court documents are often reviewed by multiple attorneys before being filed, especially in cases involving the FBI director.The lawsuit alleges that the magazine relied on anonymous sources to publish false allegations about Patel’s behavior, drinking and job performance. The claims were denied by the FBI, Justice Department and White House before they were released, according to the documents.The legal action followed a public dispute between Patel’s team and the magazine after journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick reported that she had a drinking problem. The report said his condition was known within the Trump administration and that at times, his security team had difficulty waking him up when he appeared drunk.Fitzpatrick defended her reporting, saying she stood by it and that it had been carefully verified. She said the publication had strong legal support, noting that officials did not dispute the claims when contacted. “That speaks volumes,” she said in response to threats of legal action.Patel’s allies deny the accusations. Consultant Erica Knight said the story was based on unsubstantiated claims. “Journalists tell stories by listening to biased accounts backed by disgruntled anonymous friends. Gossip fiction may get the clicks, but the truth produces results,” she wrote.Another colleague, Clint Brown, also refuted the claim, saying he spent a lot of time with Patel and never saw excessive drinking. “I have never seen him drunk. Not once. You make up stories like this because you know the President of the United States does not approve of this and even admits it in your story,” he said.Before the article was published, Patel’s lawyers at Binnar Law Group warned the magazine not to publish what they said were false claims. “If you publish these false allegations, Director Patel will take swift action to protect his reputation,” the company said in a letter.Patel himself continues to fight back publicly. “Fake News Memo – The only time I’m really worried about the hot lies you write about me is when you stop. Keep going, it means I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. No amount of bullshit you write will stop the FBI from making America safe again and fighting the criminals you love,” he said in one post.He later added on television, “If the fake news mafia isn’t hitting you with baseless information, then you’re not doing your job.”
