Which is why they typically take the time to have their fact checkers, independent from the author, verify their salacious claims and offer significant review periods.
The same lawyers review claims for legal exposure prior to publishing. Especially after receiving a legal demand.
In this instance, despite significant pushback, Assistant Director Williamson redlining each of the 19 false claims during the 2 hour deadline, and phone calls and texts that were ignored, the desire to publish defeated the truth. Likely because the PR team was promising salacious nonsense to every other reporter in DC (the same reporters that had the wisdom and ethics to know the lies they were being fed by disgruntled agitators were completely made up).
So yes, now those lawyers get to defend the egregious and malicious disregard for the truth.
Erica Knight, media adviser/spokesperson for Director Patel
Psaki: Patel's advisor said a lawsuit is being filed.
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 18, 2026
Fitzpatrick: I stand by every word of this reporting. We have excellent attorneys. pic.twitter.com/BHBMHkV9ss
The Atlantic’s @S_Fitzpatrick is fighting accusations that she is lying in her reporting.
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) April 18, 2026
Multiple people are now claiming she makes stuff up despite factual evidence to the contrary.
Multiple Republicans have had the same encounters.
Who is her editor at @TheAtlantic?!