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Kash Patel clashes with NBC reporter over 'baseless' Atlantic story allegations at news conference
By Lindsay Kornick
Published April 21, 2026
FBI Director Kash Patel got into a heated exchange with NBC News reporter Ryan Reilly Tuesday over his $250 million lawsuit against The Atlantic for what he claims is a fraudulent story.
During a news conference with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about an indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, Patel was asked to comment on the story by The Atlantic, including security concerns over his alleged excessive drinking and frequent absences.
Patel denied he's ever been intoxicated on the job and was about to leave the podium when Reilly asked Patel to clarify the claim he believed he was fired by President Donald Trump after being temporarily unable to log in to the FBI's internal computer systems.
FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL VOWS TO TAKE THE ATLANTIC TO COURT OVER 'DEFAMATORY' REPORT
An article from The Atlantic claims FBI Director Kash Patel caused security concerns over excessive drinking and absences. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo)
"Let's have a survey. How many of you people believe that’s true?" Patel responded.
Reilly continued to ask the question, which led Patel to launch into a tirade against the article's "baseless" reporting.
"The problem with you and your baseless reporting is that is an absolute lie. It was never said. It never happened, and I will serve in this administration as long as the president and the attorney general want me to do so," Patel said.
"And every time you guys report false lies, every time you guys raise baseless questions when we are here to talk about the Southern Poverty Law Center’s $3 million decade-long scheme to fraudulently fleece Americans, you are off-topic."
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Kash Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic for its report. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
Reilly insisted it was a "straight-forward" question, leading the two to begin talking over each other.
"The simple answer to your question is you are lying," Patel insisted.
Patel went on to say he was "never locked out" of the FBI's systems, though Reilly remarked that his defamation lawsuit suggested otherwise. Blanche eventually stepped in to cut Reilly off.
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"Stop, you’re being extraordinarily rude, and I know maybe that’s part of your profession, but please just stop. If you ask a question, he can answer it. And now you're interrupting me. Just a little bit of respect, man, just a tiny little bit. Try it some time," Blanche said before answering another question.
The Atlantic published a piece on Friday, headlined, "The FBI Director Is MIA," which cited multiple anonymous sources telling the outlet that the FBI director had an "emotional outburst" related to difficulty logging into a computer system, has had "bouts of excessive drinking" and been absent enough to prompt security concerns.
Patel disputed the allegations and struck back by filing a lawsuit against the news organization on Monday.
Kash Patel repeatedly denied the report during a news conference Tuesday. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The Atlantic has called the lawsuit meritless and said it will fight back.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and NBC News for comment.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/kash-patel-clashes-nbc-reporter-over-baseless-atlantic-story-allegations-press-conference