Alexis Wilkins, the girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, has filed a federal lawsuit in Nashville accusing MS NOW of “false portrayal” and of relying on “sham” anonymous sources to spread allegations she abused bureau resources. The suit names MS NOW and rep
For Alexis Wilkins, it wasn’t the headline that stung—it was the way the story landed in public, tying her name to a “night of partying” and to a security detail her lawyers say did not exist.
Wilkins, the girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, sued MS NOW in federal court in Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday. Her complaint accuses the cable news outlet of using what her attorneys call “sham” anonymous sources to “push knowingly or recklessly false allegations” that she abused bureau resources.
The lawsuit names MS NOW as a defendant alongside Ken Dilanian and Carol Leonnig, two reporters with the cable channel. In the complaint, Wilkins’ attorneys—Kurt Beasley, Jason C. Greaves, and Jared R. Roberts—say the reporters “falsely asserted” that Wilkins demanded. and Patel ordered. that federal agents assigned to her security detail escort an intoxicated friend home after a “night of partying.” Wilkins’ lawyers argue that this security detail “did not even exist at the time.”.
They also claim the reporting portrayed Wilkins as intoxicated “even knowing that she does not drink.” In part of the filing. Wilkins’ lawyers describe the allegation as an attack on her professional identity: her “professional identity is of a responsible. sober young woman who does not partake in the excess drinking culture and party scene that is typical for musicians.”.
Wilkins’ lawsuit centers on an article that MS NOW published on Dec. 5. Wilkins’ attorneys acknowledge that the piece does not accuse her of drinking. Still. they argue that the outlet’s reporting “precisely” created the impression they say she wants removed—saying “reasonable readers of MS Now would come to that conclusion.”.
In the article, Dilanian and Leonnig reported that, on more than one occasion, Patel ordered that the security detail protecting Wilkins escort one of her “inebriated friends” home after a night of partying in Nashville.
MS NOW disputes the framing. In response to a request for comment, MS NOW President Rebecca Kutler said in a statement, “We stand firmly behind MS NOW’s reporting. As a general matter of practice, we don’t comment on ongoing legal matters.”
The suit says Wilkins is “sober” and that she “very rarely drinks, if ever.” It also points to an interaction before publication: Ben Williamson, an FBI spokesman, told Dilanian before the article was published that Wilkins “doesn’t even drink,” according to the lawsuit.
Wilkins is seeking a jury trial and more than $75,000 in damages.
The case adds another layer of tension to a broader media dispute involving Patel. Two of Wilkins’ lawyers also represent Patel in a separate lawsuit against The Atlantic over an article it published in April alleging he drinks to excess. In that dispute. the attorneys allege the Atlantic article is a “sweeping. malicious and defamatory hit piece.” At the time. an Atlantic spokeswoman said: “We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel. and we will vigorously defend The Atlantic and our journalists against this meritless lawsuit.”.
MS NOW itself is a newer corporate identity. The outlet was formerly a unit of NBC News’ parent company, NBCUniversal, under the brand name MSNBC. In early January, NBCUniversal officially spun off its cable channels into a separate publicly traded company called Versant Media Group.
For Wilkins, the lawsuit draws a clear line between what she says happened—and what she says the reporting implied. Her attorneys describe the “false portrayal” as “highly offensive. ” writing that it would be offensive “to any reasonable person in her situation.” In her complaint. they say the story “directly and proximately caused” Wilkins to suffer humiliation and “actual damages” to her professional identity. reputation. and standing in the community.
Alexis Wilkins Kash Patel FBI Director MS NOW MS NOW lawsuit Ken Dilanian Carol Leonnig anonymous sources defamation Nashville federal court
MS NOW really out here making stuff up and then acting shocked.
So wait, the FBI director’s girlfriend is suing because of anonymous sources? Feels like everybody’s anonymous now and nobody’s ever responsible. Also “night of partying” sounds like they already decided the outcome.
I don’t even get it. If there was no security detail, how did MS NOW come up with that? Feels like the party story is still gonna stick in people’s heads even if they lose the lawsuit. And why Nashville federal court? That part seems weird to me.
This is just politics dressed up as journalism. Like MS NOW is probably just quoting “sham” sources because they’re mad Patel’s in charge, whatever. Also if she “doesn’t drink” how are they saying she was intoxicated—unless it was like a security guy or something that got confused? Idk but anonymous sources are always a mess.