A heated exchange between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) broke out amid a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing.
During the hearing, Sen. Van Hollen brought into question Patel’s alleged alcohol overconsumption and day drinking.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) began the budget hearing by condemning the release of FBI agents and accusing Patel of “weaponizing” the agency to seek political revenge on behalf of President Donald Trump, specifically against journalists “who write stories that you don’t like.”
“Reports of your being so drunk and hungover that your staff had to force entry into your home are extremely alarming,” Sen. Van Hollen added. “If true, they represent a gross dereliction of your duty.”
“I will not be tarnished by baseless allegations and fraudulent statements from the media,” Patel responded, referencing the original report from The Atlantic that popularized the allegations against the director.
Van Hollen's Alleged 'Margarita Slinging' with a 'Rapist'
“The only individual drinking on the taxpayer’s dime is you,” Patel fired back. “Unlike your baseless reports, the only person that was slinging margaritas in El Salvador on the taxpayer dollar with a convicted gang-banging rapist was you.”
Patel’s challenge against Sen. Van Hollen refers to an April 2025 trip to El Salvador, where the top Democrat visited Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
Abrego Garcia had been mistakenly deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration after being accused of being a member of the MS-13 gang. Abrego was not indicted or convicted of being a gang member or of rape, and has denied being a member of the group.
Van Hollen Challenges Patel to a Drinking Audit
Sen. Van Hollen later asked Patel whether he’d be willing to participate in “the audit test that members of our active-duty military and others take to determine whether they have a drinking problem.”
“I’ll take any test you’re willing to take,” Patel replied.
“I will take it,” Van Hollen said.
“Let’s go. Side by side,” Patel asserted.
