On Wednesday's episode of Sean Hannity's Fox News show, FBI Director Kash Patel addressed allegations that the FBI investigated a New York Times journalist after she published an unflattering article about his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins.
Patel's Response
Hannity asked Patel about the New York Times report, saying it didn't sound like something he would do. Patel vehemently denied the accusation, stating the reporter's story led to death threats against Wilkins. He claimed the individual responsible was arrested and charged, and that the FBI is obligated to protect all Americans facing threats.
Background on the Article
The original piece by Elizabeth Williamson detailed how Wilkins, despite modest fame, received extensive FBI resources for transport and security, including agents accompanying her to a salon and a resort in Britain. After the article's publication, Wilkins received a death threat, which the Times later reported in a follow-up article.
Patel criticized the Times for ignoring the threats and focusing on the investigation, accusing the media of bias against the Trump administration. The FBI stated it did not directly investigate the journalist but acted on the threat against Wilkins.
The Times executive editor Joseph Kahn called the investigation alarming and a violation of the reporter's First Amendment rights, reflecting ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the press.
