Sen. Van Hollen challenges Lush Patel to an alcohol disorders test

Van Hollen posts alcohol use test results after challenging Patel to 
take survey
By Rebecca Beitsch
TheHill.com
Wed, May 13, 2026 at 10:50 AM CDT

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) shared the results of a test to assess 
alcohol disorders after FBI Director Kash Patel told the lawmaker he 
would also submit to the test if he and the senator did them "side by 
side."

Democrats have called on Patel to take the Alcohol Use Disorders 
Identification Test (AUDIT) in the wake of reporting from The Atlantic 
claiming the director was drinking excessively and at times was 
difficult to reach.

"Yesterday, @FBIDirectorKash told me he'd take the Alcohol Use 
Disorders Identification Test if I did. Well, here's mine," Van Hollen 
said on social media, sharing the results of the survey.

"Given all the lies he told yesterday, I imagine he'll fudge the 
numbers here, but let's see yours, Director Patel."

The FBI did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Patel called The Atlantic article "unequivocally, categorically false, 
and during the hearing he denied having alcohol issues. He agreed, 
however, to take the AUDIT test.

"Let's go," Patel said. "Side by side."

The two men got into a heated exchange as Patel appeared before a 
Senate Appropriations subcommittee to review the bureau's budget.

As Van Hollen raised the issues outlined in The Atlantic article, Patel 
pushed back, accusing the senator of drinking margaritas while visiting 
a mistakenly deported man in El Salvador -- something Van Hollen said 
at the time was an obvious stunt staged by Salvadoran President Nayib 
Bukele. Patel also accused Van Hollen of spending $7,000 on a bar tab.

That battle continued online Tuesday night, with Patel posting a 
Federal Election Commission filing from the Maryland lawmaker's Senate 
campaign showing an expense of that amount for catering for an event at 
Lobby Bar.

"You got me, I catered a holiday reception for my staff with campaign 
-- not taxpayer -- dollars!" Van Hollen responded.

"Now let's see your receipts. #ReleaseTheTab."

Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee initially pushed for Patel 
to take the 10-question AUDIT survey, which asks questions about the 
number of drinks consumed as well as whether an individual has failed 
to deliver something expected of them because of drinking, felt unable 
to stop once they consumed alcohol, or felt guilt or remorse after 
drinking.

Van Hollen reported having alcoholic drinks two to three times a week 
but answered "never" to all other questions.

During Tuesday's hearing, Van Hollen pointed to The Atlantic's story in 
arguing for oversight of Patel's work habits.

"When your private actions make it impossible for you to perform your 
public duties, we have a big problem. You cannot perform those public 
duties if you're incapacitated," Van Hollen said to Patel during the 
hearing.

"And Director Patel, these reports about your conduct, including 
reports of your 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," Van Hollen said at the hearing.