Senator Chris Van Hollen said recent reports about Patel’s conduct are ‘extremely alarming’
FBI Director Kash Patel said recent reports alleging he drinks to excess are “categorically false” as he testified before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee Tuesday afternoon.
Patel’s tenure has been marked by a number of controversies, including a bombshell report from The Atlantic alleging a pattern of unexplained absences and excessive drinking.
He has denied those allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against the magazine .
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen’s questioning centered on The Atlantic ’s reporting, which Patel testified was “unequivocally, categorically false.” He also asked Patel if he’d be willing to take a test that screens for alcohol abuse .
“I’ll take any test you’re willing to take,” he replied.
After Van Hollen said he would take the test, Patel added, “Let’s go, side-by-side.”
Democratic Senator Patty Murray also pressed Patel about his leadership of the FBI, and said the agency needs a leader who’s “focused on solving criminal cases, not passing out branded bourbon or jetting around the globe.”
Patel responded by touting his accomplishments at the agency, which include a “20 point drop in the homicide rate” and the arrest of “45,000 violent offenders” in 2025.
Earlier Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees to justify President Donald Trump’s $1.5 trillion budget request for the U.S.
military.
Watch: FBI Director responds to allegations of excessive drinking
FBI Director Kash Patel sparred with Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen over reports that he drinks to excess.
The Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing has ended.
The hearing, which lasted more than two hours, featured testimony from FBI Director Kash Patel and other federal law enforcement leaders.
Kash Patel outlines security measures for FIFA World Cup
Republican Senator Jerry Moran asked FBI Director Kash Patel about security measures in place for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
“Our best partners are our state and local partners, and providing the training that we do for our Counter-UAS program to our host cities and our base camp cities is critical to that,” Patel said.
He added that the agency is prepared to “surge to those cities ahead of time and during the World Cup staging events.”
“We've also completed, or will complete, 300,000 background checks for individuals coming associated with the FIFA World Cup,” Patel said.
Patty Murray says FBI needs 'serious leadership'
Democratic Senator Patty Murray said the FBI needs “serious leadership.”
“We need somebody at this agency who's focused on solving criminal cases, not passing out branded bourbon or jetting around the globe,” Murray said.
“Your job is to be reachable ...
if you want to pass out liquor, pop bottles in a locker room, stick to podcasting.
Leave law and order to people who really do care about justice and appearances,” she added.
Patel responded by touting his accomplishments at the agency, which include a “20 point drop in the homicide rate” and the arrest of “45,000 violent offenders” in 2025, which he said was “twice as many as 2024.”
Kash Patel defends travel history
Republican Senator John Kennedy asked FBI Director Kash Patel about the importance of traveling to speak with agency personnel.
“Is it important that you go out there and travel and talk to our line agents and try to maintain morale?” he asked.
“That's one of the most important parts of the job ...
When it comes to travel, I've actually traveled one-third less for personal holidays than my prior two predecessors combined, and I've taken half as many days off as my prior predecessors combined,” Patel replied.
Kash Patel says FBI is not targeting or investigating journalists
FBI Director Kash Patel denied reports that his agency is investigating journalists.
“There are reports that you're using FBI resources to investigate journalists for reporting what's going on, and that is absolutely not what this committee intended when we funded the bureau,” Democratic Senator Patty Murray said.
“Can you commit to this committee today that no agent hours have been pulled from other work — like counterterrorism or violent crime investigations — to work on matters related to negative press about you or your personal lawsuit?” she asked.
“Senator, I greatly appreciate the question, and I can tell you unequivocally, this FBI is targeting and investigating no journalists.
This FBI is targeting no journalists,” Patel said.
House Democrats previously demanded Kash Patel take alcohol abuse test
FBI Director Kash Patel testified that he’s willing to take the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, also known as AUDIT.
A group of House lawmakers wrote to Patel last month asking him to submit to the test, which they described as the “gold standard.” If he doesn’t, the committee “will be requiring him to appear at a hearing in person and under oath to address members’ well-founded concerns,” they said.
The letter included a copy of the test, which asks Patel such questions as “how many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking” and “how often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected from you because of drinking.”
House Democrats launch investigation into Kash Patel and demand alcohol abuse test
Kash Patel says he'd taking test to determine if he has a drinking problem
FBI Director Kash Patel told Senator Chris Van Hollen he’s willing to take a test that screens for unhealthy alcohol use.
“Are you willing to take the test?
It's called the AUDIT test that members of our active duty military and others take to determine whether they have a drinking problem,” Van Hollen said.
“I’ll take any test you’re willing to take,” Patel replied.
After the senator said he’s also willing to take it, Patel added, “Let’s go, side-by-side.”
Patel calls recent reports about drinking 'categorically false'
FBI Director Kash Patel called allegations of excessive drinking and unexplained absences “categorically false.”
“Multiple reports, including reporting by The Atlantic , have alleged episodes of excessive drinking, unexplained absences and behavior that concern current and former FBI and DOJ officials,” Senator Chris Van Hollen said.
Patel has repeatedly denied these allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic .
Van Hollen continued: “You have publicly denied those allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit.
So today, as you testify before Congress, is it your testimony that those allegations are categorically false?”
“Unequivocally, categorically false,” Patel replied.
“So there have been no occasions during your tenure when FBI personnel were unable to promptly reach you?” Van Hollen asked.
“Absolutely not.
You can ask my entire workforce, they hear from me at every single hour of the day, as do these great gentlemen here, as do the men and women of the interagency and state and local law enforcement and the White House,” Patel said.
FBI preparing for FIFA World Cup, Patel says
FBI Director Kash Patel said his agency is getting ready for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
“This summer, all eyes are focused on the World Cup.
The FBI and DHS stand ready, learning from our valuable experiences and focusing on a 14-month lift to ensure everybody is taken care of when they visit our country for this World Cup event,” he said.
Eleven U.S.
cities will host World Cup matches this summer.
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Related Stories
Source: This article was originally published by The Independent
Read Full Original Article →
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Leave a Comment