Kash Patel denies excessive drinking allegations as ‘total farce’ in Senate hearing

Embattled FBI director Kash Patel has denied under oath recent allegations of excessive drinking and unexplained absences on the job, dismissing them as “baseless” during a fiery congressional hearing.

Democrats challenged him over the “extremely alarming” reports, first reported in the Atlantic mid-April, which they argued would a mount to a “gross dereliction” of duty. The FBI director has sued the magazine, and the author of a story it published, filing a defamation lawsuit in US district court for the District of Columbia that seeks $250m in damages.

In his opening remarks, Chris Van Hollen, ranking member of the Senate appropriations committee, said: “What we are learning about what’s happening at the FBI is anything but normal. When your private actions make it impossible for you to perform your public duties, we have a big problem … these reports about your conduct, including reports you’re being so drunk and hungover that your staff had to force entry into your home are extremely alarming, if true, they demonstrate a gross dereliction of your duty and a betrayal of public trust.”

“It’s a total farce. I don’t even know where you get this stuff,” Patel told Chris Van Hollen, ranking member of the Senate appropriations subcommittee, after he asked about the claims reported by the Atlantic. “I will not be tarnished by baseless allegations.”

When Van Hollen asked if Patel would be willing to take a test to determine whether he has a drinking problem, the FBI director snapped that he would – provided the senator would take it alongside him.

The Atlantic had reported that Patel’s alcohol consumption had become “a recurring source of concern across the government”, citing interviews with more than two dozen people, including current and former FBI officials. The most serious allegations include that his security detail on at least one occasion struggled to rouse him because he appeared intoxicated, and that agents had sought “Swat-level breaching equipment” to gain access to a room where he was unresponsive.

Patel has forcefully denied the allegations. “Print it, all false, I’ll see you in court – bring your checkbook,” he told the magazine. The Atlantic has said it stands by its allegations.

On Tuesday, Patel also denied personally ordering polygraph tests to determine leaks to the press. This comes after the FBI said last year that it begun the process of using polygraph tests to aid investigations aimed at identifying the source of leaks emanating from within the law enforcement agency.

He also said that no FBI resources have been used to investigate the negative press about him or his handling of the agency, while answering questions from Patty Murray, the Democratic vice-chair of the Senate appropriations committee.

“I am deeply concerned about the reports that your leadership has not been serious,” Murray said, while repeating allegations of Patel’s behavior while on the job. “Your job is to be reachable … if you want to pass out liquor or pop bottles in a locker room, stick to podcasting. Leave law and order to people who really do care about justice and appearances.”

Earlier this year, Patel faced criticism after a ProPublica reporter shared a video the FBI director chugging a bottle and spraying beer in a locker room with the men’s USA hockey team in Milan, following their gold medal victory against Canada at the Winter Olympics.