A Dangerous New Attack on Press Freedom

a day ago

The FBI is investigating an Atlantic reporter, Sarah Fitzpatrick, over a story about FBI Director Kash Patel's alleged absences and drinking.
Patel sued Fitzpatrick and The Atlantic for defamation seeking $250 million, but legal experts see the case as weak.
The Atlantic's editor condemned the investigation as an attack on press freedom and vowed to defend the reporter.
FBI agents assigned to the case are reportedly upset, fearing job loss regardless of their actions.
The Trump administration has a history of threatening press freedom through lawsuits and regulatory actions.
The investigation is being handled by the FBI's insider-threats unit, though Fitzpatrick is not an insider.
No law violations or classified information disclosures have been alleged against Fitzpatrick publicly.
The probe appears motivated by embarrassment over critical reporting, lacking a national-security pretext.
Such investigations can intimidate reporters, especially those with fewer resources to defend themselves.
The situation may backfire by encouraging more leaks from within the FBI and drawing further media scrutiny.

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