FBI Director Kash Patel Sues Former FBI Official Frank Figliuzzi for Defamation Over Nightclub Claims

FBI Director Kash Patel has filed a defamation lawsuit against former FBI assistant director for counterintelligence and MSNBC commentator Frank Figliuzzi, who alleged on MSNBC’s Morning Joe that Patel spends more time at nightclubs than at FBI headquarters.

Filed in Texas federal court on June 2, Patel’s lawyers claim Figliuzzi knowingly fabricated the nightclub story to discredit Patel, who has never spent any time inside a nightclub since becoming FBI Director. Figliuzzi also suggested that Patel’s briefings have been reduced from daily to twice weekly, and described chaos within the bureau.

Following the lawsuit, MSNBC correspondent Jonathan Lemire acknowledged on-air that Figliuzzi’s nightclub claim was unverified.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino defended Patel on social media, stating that Patel works 10-12 hours daily at FBI headquarters attending meetings with domestic and international law enforcement officials. Bongino called the nightclub allegation a “verifiable lie” aimed at undermining ongoing reforms.

Bongino also highlighted the bureau’s intensified efforts to combat illegal immigration and child exploitation crimes, emphasizing recent task force successes like Operation ‘Restoring Justice,’ which targeted child predators nationwide.