Key Points
Wilkins sues MS NOW for $75,000 over December 2025 article about security detail misuse.
Lawsuit alleges false reporting using anonymous sources and false portrayal as intoxicated.
Timeline problem: MS NOW reported security detail existence in November 2025, not spring.
Patel simultaneously pursues $250 million case against The Atlantic over separate allegations.
Alexis Wilkins, the 27-year-old girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, filed a defamation lawsuit against MS NOW on Friday in federal court in Nashville, Tennessee. The suit targets the news network and reporters Ken Dilanian and Carol Leonnig over a December 5, 2025 article alleging Patel ordered security agents to drive her intoxicated friends home. Wilkins seeks $75,000 in damages and denies all allegations.
What the Article Claimed
MS NOW published a story citing three anonymous sources saying Patel ordered Wilkins’ security detail to escort her drunk friends home on multiple occasions in Nashville. The article stated this happened at least twice, including once in spring 2025. Wilkins’ lawyers argue the reporting falsely portrayed her as intoxicated and irresponsible, even though the article did not directly accuse her of drinking.
Wilkins’ Legal Arguments
Wilkins’ lawyers claim MS NOW used “sham” anonymous sources to push false allegations. They argue the security detail did not exist during the alleged spring 2025 incident, since MS NOW itself broke news of its existence in November 2025. Wilkins does not drink alcohol, her lawyers state, and never requested agents to drive friends anywhere. The lawsuit also names MS NOW’s parent company, Versant.
MS NOW’s Response and Broader Context
MS NOW President Rebecca Kutler said the network stands by its reporting and declined further comment on the ongoing legal matter. The lawsuit comes as Patel himself pursues a $250 million defamation case against The Atlantic over an article raising concerns about his drinking and absences from duty. Two of Wilkins’ lawyers represent Patel in that separate lawsuit.
Timeline and Factual Disputes
Wilkins’ complaint highlights a timeline problem in MS NOW’s reporting. The article alleges an incident occurred in spring 2025, but MS NOW did not report the existence of her security detail until November 2025. Wilkins’ lawyers argue this inconsistency proves the defendants knew the allegations were false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
Final Thoughts
Wilkins’ lawsuit tests whether news outlets can defend reporting based on anonymous sources when the underlying facts appear contradictory. The case adds to mounting legal pressure on media organizations covering Patel and his associates.
FAQs
MS NOW reported that security agents drove Wilkins’ intoxicated friends home after Nashville parties on multiple occasions, citing three anonymous sources.
Wilkins seeks $75,000 in damages for defamation and false-light invasion of privacy against MS NOW, Dilanian, and Leonnig.
MS NOW published the article December 5, 2025. Wilkins filed her lawsuit in Nashville federal court on June 2, 2026.
Disclaimer:
The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.
About Author
Huzaifa Zahoor
Co FounderHuzaifa Zahoor is the engineer who built Meyka. He has spent years writing Python, training AI models, and building data pipelines specifically for financial markets. His technical articles have reached over 30,000 readers on Medium, so he knows how to make complex things easy to follow. If this article touches on how the tools work, he is the person who actually built them.
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