Alexis Wilkins, the conservative pundit and country music singer who has separately filed defamation lawsuits over claims she was an Israeli “honeypot” sent to influence FBI Director Kash Patel, has filed a defamation lawsuit against MS NOW over the cable news outlet’s December 2025 article asserting one of her allegedly inebriated friends was driven home by an FBI security detail.
In her lawsuit, Wilkins denies the outlet’s claim and alleges that the reporters were aware the claim was false at the time of publication.
“Director Patel has never ordered any FBI agent or member of Ms. Wilkins’ security detail to escort any of Ms. Wilkins’ friends home – inebriated or otherwise – nor did Ms. Wilkins ask any of them to do so,” her attorneys wrote last Friday in the filing. “Not only did these supposed demands/orders never take place, but the entire scenario is fabricated.”
According to the lawsuit, “Ms. Wilkins did not have a security detail at that time. Defendants were aware of this.”
The lawsuit argues that Wilkins should not be considered a public figure, arguing that her relationship with Patel should not assign her to this status. However, she also argues that even if she is determined by the court to be a public figure, her case will meet the legal standard of actual malice, and prove that the cable news network formerly known as MSNBC intentionally published false information despite knowing it was untrue, or with reckless disregard for the truth.
After arguing her claim meets the actual malice standard set by the U.S. Supreme Court in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, Wilkins’ lawsuit questioned the practicality of the standard in the 21st century:
This case, however, presents a perfect illustration of how modern ‘journalists’ abuse this outdated and judicially contrived standard to smear so-called public figures. In the face of on-the-record refutation, fabrication of sources (or, at the least, failure of its sources to provide a single corroborating detail), deliberate avoidance of the truth, and inherent implausibility of the story given Ms. Wilkins’ lack of a security detail in the Spring of 2025, Defendants blithely assert that they are “comfortable with [their] sourcing.” This utter lack of journalistic integrity, much less curiosity, is a symptom of the cancer that has destroyed the credibility of vast swaths of American media. This disease is inextricably linked to the creation of the actual malice standard in 1964, which should be revisited, if not discarded entirely.”
To support her case, the musician and influencer included a portion of messages exchanged by one of the outlet’s reporters and an FBI spokesman.
“This detail thing you emailed about looks like it’s made up. I just checked. No record of it anywhere and Alexis, who doesn’t even drink, said it’s not true. As did Director,” wrote FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson in a message to MS NOW reporter Ken Dilanian, before pressing for more information.
When Dilanian asked the FBI spokesman to “Stand by,” the lawsuit shows Williamson responded incredulously, “Do you not have this info already?”
Dilanian then seemed to indicate to Williamson that his publication intended to publish their article regardless of their interaction.
“Just to be clear no one is saying Alexis was drunk. We don’t have the details you are looking for but we are comfortable with our sourcing,” wrote Dilanian. “So just looking for your official comment.”
Williamson replied, “So you have no name, no date range, no nothing – just comfortable with your sourcing. Are you serious? Respectfully.”
Citing this exchange, the lawsuit alleges MS NOW and its reporters, Dilanian and Carol Leonnig, are liable for defamation and defamation per se.
The lawsuit also argues that the publication’s audience likely inferred from the article’s claim that the alleged incident followed “a night of partying,” and that her friend was inebriated, that Wilkins herself was intoxicated or a regular drinker. As a result, the second count of the filing alleges the defendants are liable for committing a false light invasion of privacy.
Wilkins is represented in this lawsuit by local attorney Kurt V. Beasley, who founded the Waterford Law Group in Franklin, Tennessee, as well as Jason C. Greaves and Jared R. Roberts of the Binnall Law Group. The same firm represents Patel in his lawsuit against The Atlantic, which the director similarly accuses of defaming him with false claims about drinking.
The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. It is assigned to District Judge Eli Richardson, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2018.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Alexis Wilkins” by Alexis Wilkins.
