Patel Trashes Sen. Van Hollen After Alcoholism Accusation: You Had Margaritas With A Rapist, Ran Up A $7,000 Bar Tab
FBI Director Kash Patel and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) clashed at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday over recent reporting from The Atlantic alleging excessive drinking by Patel.
SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: I really don’t care about your personal life, so long as you are able to perform your public and official responsibilities, which are awesome responsibilities. 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. 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? FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL: Unequivocally categorically false. VAN HOLLEN: So there have been no occasions during your tenure when FBI personnel were unable to promptly reach you? PATEL: 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, state and local law enforcement, and the White House. VAN HOLLEN: And so there have been no occasions when your security detail had difficulty waking or locating you, is that right? PATEL: Nope, it’s a total farce. I don’t even know where you get this stuff, but it doesn’t make it credible because you say so. VAN HOLLEN: I’m not saying it, Director Patel. It’s been written and documented. PATEL: You are literally saying it. VAN HOLLEN: No, I’m saying that these are reports, Director Patel. PATEL: 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. The only person that ran up a $ 7,000 bar tab in Washington, D.C. at the Lobby Bar was you. So the only individual in this room that has been drinking on taxpayer dime during the day is you. VAN HOLLEN: Director Patel, come on. These are serious allegations that were made against you. PATEL: The allegations are false. You drinking margaritas with a gang-banger is true and undeniable. [CROSSTALK] PATEL: You running a $ 7,000 bar tab at the lobby bar has been filed by your own office to drink during the day. That’s you. This is the ultimate example of hypocrisy. VAN HOLLEN: Mr. Chairman — PATEL: I will not be tarnished by baseless allegations and fraudulent statements from the media. VAN HOLLEN: The fact that you mentioned that indicates you don’t know what you are talking about. Now here, Director Patel. PATEL: The only thing I know is you’re the one drinking margaritas with felons. VAN HOLLEN: Actually, that’s a false statement. And I’m asking you about your statements. PATEL: I’ve answered them. VAN HOLLEN: And I’m asking you about a particular report. A PATEL: And it’s not a report. VAN HOLLEN: So let me ask you this. Are you willing to take the test, it’s called the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) test, that members of our active duty military and others take to determine whether they have a drinking problem? PATEL: I’ll take any test you’re willing to take. VAN HOLLEN: I will take it, Director Patel. I’ll take it. Ready to take it? PATEL: Let’s go. VAN HOLLEN: Yes or no? PATEL: Let’s go. Side by side. VAN HOLLEN: I’ll take it.
