Kash Patel and Democratic senator trade alcohol-related allegations at congressional hearing - BERITAJA

FBI Director Kash Patel sewage into a heated speech pinch Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., connected Tuesday astatine a Senate proceeding that included accusations of overconsumption of intoxicant and day-drinking.

The singular back-and-forth took spot during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee chat of the FBI’s fund and ended pinch the 2 agreeing to a situation to acquisition a drinking “audit.”

“Reports of your being truthful drunk and hungover that your unit had to unit introduction into your location are highly alarming,” Van Hollen, the apical Democrat connected the panel, said during his opening statement. “If true, they correspond a gross dereliction of your duty.”

Patel denied the reported allegations, saying: “It’s a full farce. I don’t moreover cognize wherever you get it from.”

When Van Hollen pressed him connected a caller article from The Atlantic about his alleged drinking and absences, Patel said, “I will not beryllium tarnished by baseless allegations and fraudulent statements from the media.”

At 1 point, Patel fired backmost astatine Van Hollen, “The only individual drinking connected the taxpayer’s dime is you.”

“Unlike your baseless reports, the only personification that was slinging margaritas successful El Salvador connected the payer dollar pinch a convicted gang-banging rapist was you,” he yelled, apparently referring to Van Hollen’s April 2025 travel to sojourn Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who the management said it had mistakenly deported to El Salvador.

Abrego was not charged pinch aliases convicted of being a pack personnel aliases rape, but management officials person accused him of being a personnel of the convulsive MS-13 gang, an allegation he has denied. Abrego is awaiting proceedings connected quality trafficking charges.

During Van Hollen’s visit, the legislator and Abrego were served drinks by Salvadoran officials that looked for illustration margaritas. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele past shared pictures of the gathering saying they showed Abrego “sipping margaritas pinch Sen. Van Hollen successful the tropical paradise of El Salvador!” Van Hollen said astatine the clip he ne'er touched the drink.

Patel leveled much allegations astatine Van Hollen.

“The only personification that ran up a $7,000 barroom tab successful Washington, D.C. astatine the Lobby Bar was you. The only individual successful this room that has been drinking connected the payer dime during the time is you,” Patel yelled.

“Drink during the day, that’s you,” Patel told the senator. “This is the eventual illustration of hypocrisy.”

Van Hollen told him he didn’t cognize what he was talking about.

Patel later posted connected societal media what appeared to beryllium a $7,000 catering disbursal from Van Hollen’s run committee astatine the bar.

A Van Hollen spokesperson said Tuesday that “this was a catering complaint astatine a section edifice wherever the Senator hosted an after-hours vacation reception arsenic a convey you to the 50+ members of our team, paid for by run costs — not payer dollars.”

The FBI declined further remark connected the post.

Van Hollen later asked Patel if he’d beryllium consenting to return “the audit trial that members of our progressive work subject and others return to find whether they person a drinking problem.”

“I’ll return immoderate trial you’re consenting to take,” Patel responded.

“I will return it,” Van Hollen said.

“Let’s go. Side by side,” Patel said.

Patel has antecedently denied the allegations successful The Atlantic and past period revenge a $250 cardinal defamation suit complete the story, calling it a “sweeping, malicious, and defamatory deed piece.” The mag has said it stands by the communicative and will conflict “this meritless lawsuit.”

In a connection to Beritaja aft Tuesday’s hearing, Van Hollen said: “If nationalist reporting connected his drinking were not capable to telephone into mobility his fittingness to service arsenic FBI Director, his behaviour coming perfectly did. He’s a ugliness to the agency he holds.”

The FBI did not instantly respond to a petition for remark connected Tuesday’s hearing.