Kash Patel denies excessive drinking allegations as ‘total farce’ in Senate hearing | Trump administration
Embattled FBI director Kash Patel denied under oath, during a heated congressional hearing, recent allegations that he was drinking heavily and making unexplained absences from work, calling them “baseless.”
Democrats challenged him over “extremely concerning” reports. first reported They argued in the Atlantic in mid-April that this would amount to a “gross dereliction of duty.” FBI director sues magazine and author of book a story he publishedHe filed a defamation lawsuit in the U.S. district court for the District of Columbia, seeking $250 million in damages.
Chris Van Hollen, ranking member of the Senate appropriations committee, said in his opening statement: “What we’ve learned about what’s going on at the FBI is anything but normal. When your private actions make it impossible for you to perform your public duties, we have a major problem… These reports about your conduct, including reports that you were so drunk and hungover that your staff had to break into your home, are extremely concerning; if true, they indicate a gross dereliction of your duty and a public betrayal.” trust.”
“This is complete bullshit. I don’t even know where he got these,” Patel told Chris Van Hollen, the ranking member of the Senate appropriations subcommittee, after asking about the allegations reported by the Atlantic. “I will not be tainted by baseless allegations”
When Van Hollen asked if Patel would like to take a test to determine whether he had a drinking problem, the FBI director said he would if the senator took the test with him.
Patel tried to turn the tables on Van Hollen, claiming the Maryland senator was caught on camera drinking “a margarita in El Salvador on taxpayer dollars”; It cited the photos, which Van Hollen described as a hoax convincingly staged by an aide of El Salvador’s far-right president Nayib Bukele.
Patel later claimed that documents filed by the senator’s office showed Van Hollen “paid a $7,000 bar tab at the Lobby Bar in Washington, DC.”
“You’re the only person in this room who drinks all day long on taxpayers’ money,” Patel shouted.
A spokesman for Van Hollen told the Guardian that the FBI director’s claim was a distortion of publicly available information regarding the senator’s most recent appearance at the Federal Election Commission. campaign spending reportThis shows that he spent the money on serving food at the bar. a full dinner menuOn December 12, 2025.
The senator’s office said the $7,128 payment to Lobby Bar “was a catering fee at a local restaurant where the Senator hosted an after-hours holiday reception to thank more than 50 members of our team, and was paid for with campaign funds, not taxpayer dollars.”
Patel’s alcohol consumption had become “a persistent source of concern across the government,” The Atlantic had reported, citing interviews with more than two dozen people, including current and former FBI officials. The most serious allegations include that security staff had difficulty waking him up on at least one occasion because he appeared drunk, and that agents searched for “Swat-level breach equipment” to gain access to a room where he was unresponsive.
Patel vehemently denied the allegations. “Print it out, it’s all fake, see you in court, bring your checkbook,” he told the magazine. The Atlantic said it stood by its claims.
On Tuesday, Patel also denied personally requesting a polygraph test to determine information leaked to the press. This comes after the FBI said last year it had begun the process of using polygraph tests to assist in investigations aimed at identifying the source of law enforcement leaks.
He also said in response to questions from Patty Murray, the Democratic vice chair of the Senate appropriations committee, that no FBI resources were used to investigate negative press about him or how he ran the agency.
“I am deeply concerned about reports that your leadership is not serious,” Murray said, repeating allegations about Patel’s behavior on the job. “Your job is to be approachable… If you want to pass out drinks or pop bottles in the locker room, keep podcasting. Leave law and order to the people who actually care about fairness and appearances.”
Earlier this year, Patel faced criticism after a ProPublica reporter shared video of the FBI director spraying bottles and beer in the locker room with the U.S. men’s hockey team in Milan following their Winter Olympics gold medal victory over Canada.
