Van Hollen posts alcohol use test results after challenging Patel to take survey

May 14, 2026 3oliver

Van Hollen posts alcohol use test results after challenging Patel to take survey

Rebecca Beitsch

Wed, May 13, 2026 at 3:50 PM UTC

3 min read

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.

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