FBI Director Kash Patel unequivocally denied allegations of excessive drinking and unexplained absences during his tenure, calling them "categorically false" before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee regarding his agency's proposed budget.
Patel Faces Defamation Lawsuit
Patel is facing a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic for reporting on these allegations, which Senator Chris Van Hollen described as "extremely alarming." Van Hollen questioned Patel on whether FBI personnel were ever unable to reach him, to which Patel responded, "Absolutely not," stating his workforce hears from him constantly.
Offer to Take Alcohol Screening Test
Patel offered to take the AUDIT test, which screens for unhealthy alcohol use, after Senator Van Hollen suggested it, saying, "I'll take any test you're willing to take." The FBI chief also denied reports that his agency is investigating or targeting journalists.
In a separate statement, Patel claimed that AI has stopped school shootings, saying, "I'm using it everywhere." However, this remark was not directly related to the drinking allegations.
