Patel Pushes Back in Senate Hearing, Denies Drinking Allegations and Moves to Defamation Court
TL;DR
In a fiery Senate appropriations hearing, FBI director Kash Patel denied allegations of excessive drinking and unexplained absences as “baseless,” calling the reports a “total farce” and announcing a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic. Democrats argued the claims signal a dereliction of duty, while Patel challenged the questioning and even offered to take a sobriety test alongside Sen. Chris Van Hollen. The dispute also touched on a disputed bar-tab spending claim and prior coverage, including a ProPublica video of him with the USA hockey team, all underscoring ongoing contention around his conduct and leadership.
- Kash Patel denies excessive drinking allegations as ‘total farce’ in Senate hearing The Guardian
- Takeaways from FBI Director Kash Patel’s defensive Hill testimony CNN
- Democrats accuse FBI Director Kash Patel of undermining national security Honolulu Star-Advertiser
- Patel, Van Hollen trade barbs over 'slinging margaritas' in heated Senate clash Fox News
- Kash Patel lashes out as lawmakers question ‘excessive drinking’ The Washington Post
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