New York Times says FBI investigated reporter after article about director Kash Patel’s girlfriend

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Times says the FBI investigated whether one of its reporters, Elizabeth Williamson, violated laws against stalking after she wrote a story nearly two months ago about how federal agents had been assigned to protect and give rides to FBI Director Kash Patel’s girlfriend.

The FBI said Wednesday that its agents interviewed Patel’s girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, when she expressed concern about a death threat received after Williamson’s article was published, but took no further action.

The Times, in an article posted online Wednesday, said that the FBI looked on federal databases for information about Williamson and recommended pursuing it further, but was blocked by the Justice Department.

The newspaper said it learned about all of this only through a tip given to reporter Michael S. Schmidt. The paper called the action alarming.

“The FBI’s attempt to criminalize routine reporting is a blatant violation of Elizabeth’s First Amendment rights and another attempt by this administration to prevent journalists from scrutinizing its actions,” said Joseph Kahn, the newspaper’s executive editor. “It’s alarming. It’s unconstitutional. And it’s wrong.”

It’s not clear whether The Times has any recourse other than asking a federal inspector general to review whether the actions were improper.