Judge Dismisses Kash Patel's Defamation Lawsuit Against Frank Figliuzzi A federal judge in Texas has dismissed the defamation lawsuit filed by FBI Director Kash Patel against Frank Figliuzzi, a former FBI assistant director who became a contributor for MSNBC. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge George Hanks Jr., determined that Figliuzzi’s remarks about Patel did not constitute defamation. The case centered on a comment Figliuzzi made during a 2025 episode of MSNBC’s Morning Joe. Figliuzzi had said, “Yeah, well, reportedly, he’s been visible at nightclubs far more than he has been on the seventh floor of the Hoover building.” Patel, who served as FBI director from 2023 to 2026, sued Figliuzzi, alleging the statement defamed him by implying he spent excessive time in nightlife venues rather than his official duties. Figliuzzi’s legal team argued the comment was a “sarcastic, hyperbolic remark” protected under the First Amendment. Judge Hanks agreed, stating that the statement, when considered in context, could not be interpreted as stating factual claims about Patel. The judge emphasized that a “person of ordinary intelligence and learning” would not take the remark literally, noting it was clearly rhetorical hyperbole rather than a factual assertion. The ruling also denied Figliuzzi’s request for attorney fees and other costs, though his lawyer, Marc Fuller, called the decision a “victory for press freedom and the First Amendment.” Fuller highlighted the importance of allowing public figures to critique officials without fear of legal retaliation. The case unfolded alongside another defamation lawsuit filed by Patel against The Atlantic magazine.#kash_patel #frank_figliuzzi #george_hanks_jr #msNBC #morning_joe
