The FBI has deployed US Gov's revenge machine against a journalist who embarrassed the FBI dir.

    the FBI has opened a criminal investigation focusing on Atlantic journalist
    Sarah Fitzpatrick, related to an article she published last month about
    Director Kash Patel.

This follows the earlier vindication campaign, personally launched by the FBI director.

    Patel filed a lawsuit against Fitzpatrick and The Atlantic following 
    the story’s publication, alleging defamation and demanding $250 million.

    Filing a flimsy civil lawsuit as a private citizen is Patel’s right,
    though it is also plainly an inappropriate attempt to smother unflattering
    reporting. But if Patel’s bureau has launched a criminal investigation
    into a reporter, employing the power of the federal government, that
    would be a significant escalation. 

IMO, the phrase 'significant escalation' severely undersells these unethical abuses by the FBI dir. This is a Hoover-esque misuse of power.

Discussion yesterday (52 points, 26 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48037332