FBI said to have investigated New York Times reporter after article on Kash Patel's girlfriend

"The FBI began investigating a New York Times reporter last month after she wrote about the bureau's director, Kash Patel, using bureau personnel to provide his girlfriend with government security and transportation."

"In response to questions from the Times this week, the FBI said that 'while investigators were concerned about how the aggressive reporting techniques crossed lines of stalking,' the FBI is not pursuing a case."

"Williamson followed normal procedures for a journalist working on a story, which typically involve reaching out to the subject and seeking a variety of perspectives."

"Those actions prompted concerns among some Justice Department officials who saw the inquiry as retaliation for an article that Patel and his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, did not like."

The FBI investigated New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson after she reported on bureau director Kash Patel's use of personnel for personal matters. Agents interviewed Patel's girlfriend and examined whether Williamson violated federal stalking laws. Some Justice Department officials viewed the inquiry as retaliation for the article and found no legal basis for proceeding. The scrutiny exemplifies the Trump administration's consideration of criminalizing standard news gathering practices, which are typically protected by the First Amendment.

Read at Boston.com