From PBS NewsHour.

Kash Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit Monday against The Atlantic magazine over a story published last week titled "The FBI Director is MIA."

The article alleges "episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences" by Patel.

His suit calls the article "a sweeping, malicious and defamatory hit piece … designed to destroy Director Patel’s reputation and drive him from office." Both the Justice Department and the White House have denied the story’s claims.

In response, a spokesperson for The Atlantic says it stands by its reporting, calling Patel’s lawsuit meritless.

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