On Tuesday, FBI Director Kash Patel took aim at Senator Chris Van Hollen, challenging the Maryland Democrat over his alleged behavior. Patel questioned why Van Hollen would socialize with a convicted felon over margaritas and accrue a $7,000 bar tab in Washington, DC. He further invited Van Hollen to join him in taking a test for alcohol dependency.
In a heated exchange during a Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing, Patel accused, “The only person indulging in margaritas with a convicted, gang-affiliated rapist on taxpayer money in El Salvador was you,” clearly directing his remarks at Van Hollen.
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Patel continued his accusations, “You were the one who ran up a $7,000 bill at the Lobby Bar in Washington, DC. So, in this room, you’re the only one who’s been drinking at the public’s expense,” he asserted.
In response, Van Hollen pointed to what he termed “serious allegations” involving the FBI Director. These claims were detailed in The Atlantic magazine, highlighting purported incidents of excessive drinking and unexplained absences from work. Van Hollen challenged, “Will you undergo the audit test that assesses whether military personnel or others have a drinking problem?”
“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?” the Democratic senator pressed.
“I’ll take any tests you’re willing to take,” Patel fired back.
“I will take it. Director Patel, I’ll take it,” Van Hollen agreed. “You’re ready to take it?”
“Let’s go side by side,” said the FBI director, who has sued The Atlantic for $250 million over the article and dismissed it in Tuesday’s hearing as “unequivocally, categorically false.”
