A Las Vegas national justice has dismissed a suit now-FBI manager Kash Patel filed against a blogger helium accused of describing him arsenic a “Kremlin asset.”
Patel’s defamation suit was initially filed successful 2023. He was antecedently represented by lawyer Sigal Chattah, who present runs Nevada’s U.S. attorney’s office.
Chief U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon granted Jim Stewartson’s motions to disregard and to vacate a anterior default judgement successful his Saturday order. The justice based his ruling connected a uncovering that the tribunal successful Nevada did not person idiosyncratic jurisdiction implicit Stewartson.
In the suit, Patel alleged that Stewartson, a blogger connected online platforms similar Substack and X, “sought publicity and fiscal summation by immoderate means necessary, including by maliciously defaming Mr. Patel with unthinkable allegations that Mr. Patel has worked to overthrow the authorities and is simply a Russian agent.”
The posts astatine contented successful the suit spanned the play from 2021 to 2023, though Patel’s attorneys besides complained successful a aboriginal filing astir a 2025 X station successful which they said Stewartson called Patel a “Googly-eyed Kremlin b——.”
Attorneys for Patel did not respond to requests for remark Wednesday. Patel has besides sued The Atlantic implicit an nonfiction which discussed allegations that helium drank excessively.
Stewartson’s lawyer Maggie McLetchie said her client’s comments were protected speech.
“When we’re talking astir elected officials, First Amendment protections are astatine their zenith,” she said. “And frankly, this is not the lone suit, I believe, that Kash Patel has filed and I deliberation our elected officials should person amended things to bash than trying to record suits against their critics.”
Stewartson did not initially record a effect to the suit and Gordon granted Patel default judgement successful Aug. 2025, awarding him and his instauration $250,000. Gordon’s determination Saturday voids that award.
Despite past ruling successful Patel’s favour and uncovering that Stewartson had defamed him, Gordon voiced skepticism astatine the clip astir Patel’s claims.
“(A)fter the defamatory statements, Mr. Patel was confirmed by the United States Senate arsenic Director of the F.B.I.,” wrote the judge. “Clearly his estimation was not importantly sullied by the defamatory statements.”
Stewartson past challenged the default judgement done McLetchie and lawyer Leo Wolpert, who person besides represented the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
They alleged that Stewartson was ne'er served with the suit, that determination was a deficiency of idiosyncratic jurisdiction and that Patel’s claims were barred by the First Amendment.
“Even if calling Mr. Patel a ‘Kremlin asset’ were not protected rhetorical hyperbole, consequent reporting successful information supports Mr. Stewartson’s assertions,” wrote McLetchie and Wolpert.
Patel’s lawyers said it was mendacious that Stewartson was ne'er served, noting that helium referenced the suit connected societal media.
Although Gordon ruled successful Stewartson’s favor, helium was captious of the defendant.
“Stewartson knew of the suit and whitethorn person attempted to debar service, arsenic shown done aggregate work attempts astatine his address,” wrote the judge, adding, “Further, helium mocked the plaintiffs online for filing the suit, and seems to person relied connected his ain mediocre judgement astir what would legally represent service.”
“He has wasted the plaintiffs’ and the court’s time, and I bash not commend his actions,” Gordon said.
McLetchie said Wednesday she did not deliberation Stewartson was avoiding service.
Contact Noble Brigham astatine nbrigham@reviewjournal.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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