FBI Director Kash Patel is suing The Atlantic magazine for $250 million. He also named reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed in Washington DC on Monday. The Atlantic published an article about Patel on Friday April 17.

It said colleagues were alarmed by his heavy drinking and unexplained absences. It also said his drinking could be a threat to national security.

Patel's legal team called the article a defamatory hit piece. The Atlantic said the lawsuit has no merit. The magazine said it will strongly defend itself and its journalists.