Kash Patel denies claims of targeting a New York Times reporter using the FBI.
Kash Patel Tells Senator ‘You Are Lying’ During Heated Hearing
Kash Patel clashed with Democratic senators during a tense hearing on Tuesday after they questioned reports about his alleged drinking, his behavior, and his use of government resources.
The heated exchange happened during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee about the FBI's proposed budget for 2027. However, the discussion soon went from budgets to accusations about Patel's personal behavior and travel spending.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen did most of the questioning and brought up his drinking and personal trips, according to USA Today.
Senate hearing over Patel's FBI budget turns personal
"You are a disgrace," Senator Van Hollen tells Kash Patel.
“Director Patel, these reports about your conduct, including reports of your being so drunk and hung over that your staff had to force entry into your home, are extremely alarming,” Van Hollen said during the hearing.
But Patel didn't sit back and take the accusations. He denied them and said that critics had been spreading false stories about him. The FBI director has already filed a defamation claim against The Atlantic because of their reporting about his behavior.
As the hearing continued, it became increasingly heated after Patel struck back against Van Hollen. He even referred to the senator's recent trip to El Salvador that involved deported migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcio.
“The only person that was slinging margaritas in El Salvador on the taxpayer dollar with a convicted gangbanging r-p-st was you,” Patel responded.
Van Hollen denied Patel's claims and said that it was "provably false."
Kash Patel defends himself against committee
A compilation of Patel talking about his drinking habits.
The Democratic senators also brought up Patel allegedly using FBI aircraft for events that weren't related to the agency, and whether his leadership style was becoming a distraction.
While the hearing was supposed to be about the FBI's budget, with representatives from the U.S. Marshals, the DEA and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also giving testimony. But soon, the focus turned to other matters.
“When your private actions make it impossible for you to perform your public duties, we have a big problem,” Van Hollen said. “You cannot perform those public duties if you’re incapacitated.”
Patel, however, denied that he misled Congress. Van Hollen then asked him if lying to Congress was a crime, but he did not answer him directly.
Van Hollen then said, "The director of the FBI apparently does not want to answer the question about whether or not it’s a crime to lie to Congress, and I find that extremely troubling,” Van Hollen said.
“I find it troubling that you lie to the American people every day,” Patel replied.
“You are a disgrace, Mr. Director,” Van Hollen shot back near the end of the hearing.
But that was not the end of their exchange. The two also agreed to a challenge, and so far only Van Hollen has followed through.
No wonder after his bad week just got worse.
Alcohol test challenge adds new twist
During the confrontation between the senator and the FBI director, Patel also agreed to take an alcohol dependency test if Van Hollen also completed the same assessment.
“Let’s go,” Patel reportedly said. “Side by side.”
Van Hollen later posted his own esults online and challenged Patel to do the same.