FBI director Kash Patel has denied under oath recent allegations of excessive drinking and unexplained absences, dismissing them as “baseless” during a fiery congressional hearing. Democrats challenged him over the reports, first published by The Atlantic in mid-April, which they argued would amount to a “gross dereliction” of duty. Patel has since filed a $250m defamation lawsuit against the magazine.
During his opening remarks, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) said the reports were “extremely alarming” and, if true, demonstrated a betrayal of public trust. Patel responded: “It’s a total farce. I don’t even know where you get this stuff.” When Van Hollen asked if Patel would take a test for a drinking problem, the FBI director snapped that he would – provided the senator took it alongside him.
Patel then accused Van Hollen of drinking “margaritas in El Salvador on the taxpayer dollar” and claimed the senator had run up a $7,000 bar tab in Washington DC. Van Hollen’s office stated that the $7,128 payment to the Lobby Bar was a catering charge for a holiday reception paid for by campaign funds, not taxpayer money, and that the photograph from El Salvador was a hoax.
The Atlantic had reported that Patel’s alcohol consumption was a “recurring source of concern”, citing interviews with more than two dozen people. Allegations included that his security detail struggled to rouse him and that agents sought “Swat-level breaching equipment” to access his room. Patel has forcefully denied all claims, telling the magazine: “Print it, all false, I’ll see you in court – bring your checkbook.”
Patel also denied personally ordering polygraph tests to identify leakers and said no FBI resources had been used to investigate negative press. Senator Patty Murray (D-Washington) criticised his leadership, stating: “If you want to pass out liquor or pop bottles in a locker room, stick to podcasting.”
