The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a criminal leak investigation into The Atlantic journalist, Sara Fitzpatrick, following her “unflattering” coverage of FBI Director Kash Patel’s work habits, according to an exclusive report from MS Now.
According to two sources, agents involved in the investigation are part of an insider threats unit based in Huntsville, Alabama.
The two sources additionally described the probe as “highly unusual” because it did not originate from a disclosure of classified information and because of its emphasis on leaks to a reporter.
“Typically, leak investigations examine government officials who may have disclosed state secrets or classified documents. Journalists who receive and publish such information have typically only been involved as potential witnesses,” the news outlet wrote.
“They know they are not supposed to do this,” one source told MS Now. “But if they don’t go forward, they could lose their jobs. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”
On Apr. 17, 2026, Fitzpatrick wrote a piece on Director Patel’s alcohol consumption and irregular behavior, which prompted concern from several FBI officials.
Citing two dozen anonymous sources, Fitzpatrick covered Patel’s instances of intoxication and occasions where security personnel would have difficulty waking him up.
In response, Director Patel sued the magazine, arguing that the story contained fabrications, meant to defame the top official.
The probe grants FBI agents the ability to gather Fitzpatrick’s phone records, examine her social media contacts, and process her name and information through FBI databases.
“This is completely false. No such investigation like this exists, and the reporter you mention is not being investigated at all," FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson told MS Now denied the probe. “Every time there’s a publication of false claims by anonymous sources that gets called out, the media plays the victim via investigations that do not exist.”
The two sources informed the publication that agents involved in the investigation are part of an insider threats unit based in Huntsville, Alabama.
