FBI Director Kash Patel denied allegations about his alcohol consumption Tuesday as Senate Democrats raised concerns about his leadership, pressing him on a series of rolling controversies at the agency.
At one point during a more than two-hour budget hearing, Patel lashed out at Sen. Chris Van Hollen after the Maryland Democrat pointed to allegations outlined in an article from The Atlantic magazine. Patel has filed a defamation lawsuit over the reporting.
“I will not be tarnished by baseless allegations,” Patel said during the exchange before the Senate Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Subcommittee.
