Alexis Wilkins, Girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, Sues MS Now Reporters Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian for Defamation Over Allegedly Fabricated Nashville Story
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Alexis Wilkins Sues MS Now Reporters Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian for Defamation Over Fabricated Nashville FBI Story | 17GEN4 News
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BREAKING | June 1, 2026
Alexis Wilkins, Girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, Sues MS Now Reporters Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian for Defamation Over Allegedly Fabricated Nashville Story
Country singer Alexis Wilkins has filed a defamation and false-light lawsuit against MS Now (formerly MSNBC) and its reporters Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian, accusing them of publishing a fabricated story that falsely portrayed her as abusing FBI resources and implying she was a heavy drinker.
The 16-page complaint, filed on or around May 29–30, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in Nashville, targets an article published by the outlet on December 5, 2025. The story, headlined along the lines of “Kash Patel ordered FBI detail to give girlfriend’s pal a lift home: sources,” claimed that FBI Director Kash Patel had ordered members of Wilkins’ security detail to escort one of her allegedly intoxicated friends home after nights of partying in Nashville — on multiple occasions, including once in spring 2025.According to the complaint:
The article alleged that Wilkins asked FBI agents on her security team at least twice to drive her friend home.
Agents allegedly objected to diverting from their protective duties, but Patel insisted and, in one instance, called the security detail leader and yelled at him to comply.
It was based on “three people with knowledge of the incidents,” granted anonymity to discuss “nonpublic matters” and provide “inside accounts.”
Wilkins’ lawsuit claims the entire story is false. Key allegations include:
No security detail existed for Wilkins in spring 2025. A protective detail was only assigned later due to credible death threats she had received (a fact MS Now had itself reported on in a November 17, 2025 article).
Wilkins never asked for any such rides, and Patel never ordered or yelled at any agents to provide them.
Wilkins does not drink (or very rarely drinks, if ever), making the implication of her being involved in heavy partying or intoxication false.
No FBI agents ever escorted any of her friends home. All potential witnesses deny the claims, and there are no corroborating records in FBI files.
The “anonymous” sources were “sham” sources that the reporters knew or should have known lacked credibility or first-hand knowledge.
The complaint highlights text messages between reporter Ken Dilanian and FBI spokesman Ben Williamson on December 2, 2025 (days before publication). Williamson reportedly told Dilanian the story “looks like it’s made up,” confirmed after checking there was “no record of it anywhere,” noted that “Alexis, who doesn’t even drink, said it’s not true,” and asked for basic details like a date or the friend’s name. Dilanian reportedly responded that they were “comfortable with our sourcing” but did not have those specifics. Williamson had investigated by speaking to witnesses and found nothing to support the claims.
The lawsuit further alleges that MS Now misrepresented the FBI’s response in the article (initially quoting Williamson more strongly denying it as “made up”) and later stealth-edited the piece without acknowledgment to soften the denial to a “broad” dispute.
Wilkins, a Nashville-based country singer, argues the story damaged her reputation as a sober and responsible person, caused her emotional distress, and compounded harm amid existing death threats. She is seeking damages of no less than $75,000, plus other relief. The case has been assigned to Judge Eli Jeremy Richardson.
Claims in the complaint include defamation (alleging actual malice or at least negligence/recklessness) and false-light invasion of privacy. The filing criticizes the use of anonymous sources to push “knowingly or recklessly false allegations” and states, “This was hogwash and they knew it.”
MS Now has stood behind its reporting. In a statement to media outlets, the network said it stands “firmly behind MS NOW’s reporting” and generally does not comment on ongoing legal matters.
This lawsuit comes amid broader scrutiny of Patel’s tenure and use of resources, as well as previous defamation actions filed by Wilkins against online personalities over unrelated claims (such as allegations she was an “Israeli honeypot”). It remains a developing legal matter with no trial date set.
17GEN4 News will provide updates as the case progresses in federal court.
Alexis Wilkins Sues MS Now Reporters Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian for Defamation Over Fabricated Nashville FBI Story | 17GEN4 News
Breaking: Country singer Alexis Wilkins, girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, filed a defamation lawsuit in Nashville federal court against MS Now (MSNBC) reporters Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian. The suit alleges their December 2025 story falsely claimed Patel ordered her security detail to drive an intoxicated friend home and implied heavy drinking. Complaint cites FBI denials, lack of evidence, and stealth edits. Seeks damages. Full details and latest updates.
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