FBI Opens Leak Investigation Tied to Atlantic Story on FBI Director Kash Patel

The FBI has launched a criminal investigation into whether information was leaked to Sarah Fitzpatrick, the Atlantic reporter who wrote that FBI Director Kash Patel’s excessive drinking was causing deep concern in the bureau. Carol Leonnig broke the news that the FBI is investigating Sarah Fitzpatrick.

An FBI unit in Huntsville, Alabama, was ordered to begin investigating and reviewing The Atlantic reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick’s contacts, phone metadata, and social media contacts.

The order to investigate the reporter came at FBI Director Kash Patel’s instruction from his executive suite. FBI agents are raising concerns about whether a sufficient predicate exists to open the investigation of the reporter. Agents typically require a reasonable belief that a crime has occurred before opening such a probe, and questions have arisen about what information might be classified and why a reporter would be the starting point rather than a last resort.

The FBI assistant director stated: "This is completely false. No such investigation like this exists. The reporter you mention is not being investigated at all. " Carol Leonnig stated that she and her outlet stand by their reporting on the FBI investigation of the reporter.

Org reported that the interview between Amna Nawaz and Carol Leonnig occurred on May 6, 2026. Carol Leonnig is a senior investigative reporter for MSNBC.

“If confirmed to be true, an FBI criminal leak investigation targeting our reporter would represent an outrageous attack on the free press and the First Amendment itself. We will defend The Atlantic and its staff vigorously." — Jeffrey Goldberg The Atlantic published an update to its Kash Patel story on May 6, 2026 that included a photo of custom bottles of bourbon with Kash Patel's name on them that he reportedly gives out. Kash Patel is the FBI Director. Kash Patel stated on an unspecified date last month: "I have never been intoxicated on the job. And that is why we filed a $250 million dollar defamation lawsuit. And anyone of you that wants to participate, bring it on. I will see you in court." Pam Bondi issued a memo that loosened restrictions on compelling telephone metadata or other information from a reporter’s provider but required these techniques be used only in extraordinary circumstances. In a separate development, the FBI raided the offices and home of Virginia State Senate Leader Louise Lucas on or before May 6, 2026. The raid on Louise Lucas was conducted by the FBI under the direction of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Virginia. The investigation into Louise Lucas was first opened under the Biden Department of Justice at least three years ago. The investigation into Louise Lucas examined evidence suggesting she had accepted or solicited bribes. Former acting U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan is a close Trump ally. Lindsey Halligan put intense pressure on prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia to bring charges against Louise Lucas. Prosecutors had expressed worries about the robustness of the case and viewed the pressure as inappropriate in an effort to bring charges against a Democrat before the midterms. pbs.org reported on the developments in an interview conducted May 6, 2026.”