"The vast majority of the defamatory claims in the Article rely solely on vague, unattributed sourcing such as "people familiar with the matter," "some have characterized," "officials said," "former advisers," and similar formulations. Any such purported sources could not possibly possess firsthand knowledge of the events described, both because the sources were not in a position to know and because the events described did not occur."
"Also known to Fitzpatrick was that both the former and allegedly current sources lacked any legitimate access to the specific operational, security, and personal facts they purported to describe."
"(3) they relied exclusively on anonymous sources with known motives to fabricate or exaggerate and lacked credible firsthand knowledge;"
"FBI Director Kash Patel ordered the polygraphing of more than two dozen former and current members of his security detail, as well as other staff, and has been described as being in panic mode to save his job and find leakers among his team, according to two people briefed on the development."
The allegations rely on anonymous, unattributed sources described as partisan and unable to know specific facts. The claims are characterized as vague formulations such as “people familiar with the matter,” “officials said,” and similar language. The sources are said to lack firsthand knowledge because they were not in a position to know and because the described events did not occur. It is also stated that the sources lacked legitimate access to operational, security, and personal details they purported to describe. Later reporting says FBI Director Kash Patel ordered polygraphs for more than two dozen former and current members of his security detail and other staff, with accounts describing him as in panic mode to save his job and identify leakers.
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