Senator challenges Kash Patel to take test for problem drinking at fiery hearing on Capitol Hill

Key Points:

• During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Sen. Chris Van Hollen challenged FBI Director Kash Patel to take the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) amid allegations of Patel's problematic drinking behavior reported by The Atlantic.
• Patel vehemently denied the reports, accusing Van Hollen of drinking on the taxpayers’ dime during a 2025 visit to El Salvador and repeating false claims about Van Hollen's conduct, which have been disputed and amplified by Trump allies on social media.
• The Atlantic's April report alleged Patel frequently drinks excessively in public and exhibits paranoia about losing his job; Patel has filed a defamation lawsuit against the outlet and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick, who stand by their story.
• The AUDIT test, endorsed by the World Health Organization, assesses drinking behavior but depends on honest self-reporting; both Patel and Van Hollen agreed to take the test during the hearing.
• Patel remains FBI director despite controversy, including scrutiny over a 2024 incident in Milan where he was seen partying with the U.S. Men’s hockey team, and ongoing tensions within the Justice Department linked to former Attorney General Pam Bondi's firing.