FBI Investigated New York Times Reporter in Death Threat Probe Involving Director's Girlfriend

The FBI launched an inquiry into New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson after Alexis Wilkins, girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, claimed Williamson's reporting constituted stalking, a federal felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

According to a person briefed on the matter, agents interviewed Wilkins, queried databases for information about Williamson, and recommended proceeding to determine if she violated federal stalking laws. Some Justice Department officials viewed the inquiry as retaliation for an article Patel and Wilkins disliked, and they determined there was no legal basis to continue.

Federal law defines stalking as placing someone under surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate that person. Williamson followed normal journalistic procedures, contacting numerous people who had worked with or knew Wilkins, having one off-the-record phone conversation with her, and exchanging emails before publication.

She also asked Wilkins to provide a list of people she might speak to for the article, but Wilkins did not respond.

An FBI spokesman stated by email that it was false the bureau investigated Williamson, adding that agents interviewed Wilkins in relation to a death threat in Boston, which specifically referenced an article published by Williamson the previous day.

During the questioning, agents inquired about the related reporting, and while investigators were concerned about how the aggressive reporting techniques crossed lines of stalking, no further action regarding Williamson or the reporting was pursued.