A New York Times reporter, Elizabeth Williamson, was probed by the FBI after she put out a story about Kash Patel and his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins. The story was about Patel's use of FBI resources for Wilkins' security and transportation. Wilkins was interviewed and databases were checked for information on Williamson, and agents recommended pursuing a case for federal stalking laws.
Alexis Wilkins, Patel's girlfriend, called Williamson her 'stalker' and said she was at a fentanyl roundtable for work, not for the media. The FBI told NYT that while investigators were concerned about Williamson's aggressive reporting techniques, they were not pursuing a case.
The New York Times executive editor, Joseph Kahn, said the FBI's attempt to criminalize routine reporting is a blatant violation of Elizabeth's First Amendment rights.
