Political commentator and country singer, Alexis Wilkins who is the longtime partner of FBI Director Kash Patel, has filed a $5 million defamation lawsuit against conservative podcaster Elijah Schaffer, alleging that his viral post on X (formerly Twitter) falsely portrayed her as an Israeli spy.
According to The Noticer, the lawsuit was filed on October 28 in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint accuses Schaffer of using Wilkins’ relationship with Patel to fuel online engagement, saying his “wordless” post carried a defamatory implication that exposed her to “harassment, reputational harm, and threats.”
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The viral post that sparked controversy
As per a report by the Hindustan Times, the dispute traces back to September 14, when Schaffer retweeted a thread by X user Hen Mazzig, which discussed the Mossad’s alleged use of female operatives to seduce foreign officials. Without any caption, Schaffer attached a photo of Wilkins and Patel from a public event which is a combination that quickly went viral, amassing millions of views and thousands of shares.
The lawsuit argues that, amid circulating online rumours branding Wilkins as a “honeypot” operative, Schaffer’s post “did not need words to convey its message.” It effectively suggested that Wilkins had seduced Patel to compromise U.S. national security interests, the filing claims.
Wilkins’ legal team further accuses Schaffer of acting with “actual malice,” pointing to his past comments critical of Israeli influence in U.S. politics and alleged personal hostility toward Patel.
Legal battle ahead
To win, Wilkins must prove under the Supreme Court’s 1964 New York Times Co. v. Sullivan standard, proving that Schaffer either knew his implication was false or acted with a reckless disregard for the truth. Legal experts note that Florida courts have historically been protective of online expression, often treating retweets as sharing rather than endorsement, a factor that could shape the outcome.
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Schaffer has not commented publicly on the case
This marks Wilkins’ second defamation suit this year. In August, she sued former FBI agent and podcaster Kyle Seraphin in Texas, also for $5 million, alleging he falsely called her a “former Mossad agent” involved in a “honeypot” plot. Seraphin has denied the allegations, calling his remarks satirical, and has filed a motion to dismiss.
Wilkins, 27, is based in Nashville, known for her conservative commentary and country music career. She and Patel have reportedly been together for over two years, having met at an event in 2023, long before Patel’s appointment as FBI Director in February 2025.
