Judge tosses Kash Patel's defamation suit against former MSNBC contributor
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- A Texas federal judge dismissed FBI Director Kash Patel's defamation lawsuit against former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi, ruling that Figliuzzi's nightclub comment was protected rhetorical hyperbole.
- Judge George Hanks Jr. stated that a reasonable person would not interpret Figliuzzi's sarcastic remark about Patel's nightlife as a factual claim, thus it cannot constitute defamation.
- Figliuzzi's attorney praised the decision as a win for press freedom and the First Amendment, although the judge denied requests for attorney fees and costs.
- The ruling follows Patel's separate $250 million defamation suit against The Atlantic magazine over a recent article alleging excessive drinking and unexplained absences, which The Atlantic vows to vigorously defend.
- MSNBC, now rebranded as MS NOW, continues to air "Morning Joe," where the disputed comments were originally made.
