A federal judge in Houston dismissed Kash Patel's defamation lawsuit against former FBI official Frank Figliuzzi, ruling that Figliuzzi's crack about Patel spending more time at nightclubs than at FBI headquarters was rhetorical hyperbole protected by the First Amendment. The ruling came as Patel simultaneously filed a separate $250 million lawsuit against The Atlantic magazine over reporting on his alleged drinking and absences from work. The dismissal reinforces that exaggerated statements made in political commentary, even harshly critical ones, are protected speech — though Patel's dueling lawsuits suggest he's pursuing a broader legal strategy to challenge media coverage of his conduct as FBI director.