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Kash Patel clashes with Democratic senator over drinking allegations: ‘unequivocally, categorically false’
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Patel also sought to counterattack politically by referencing Van Hollen’s previous trip to El Salvador involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who had been detained there after an arrest in Maryland.FBI director Kash Patel testifies before the Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing on Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request for the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration; the United States Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives the on Capitol Hill, Tuesday May 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)(AP)FBI Director Kash Patel sharply pushed back against allegations about his conduct and leadership during a tense Senate budget hearing on Tuesday (May 12), angrily denying claims that he drinks excessively on the job.The heated exchange unfolded during an annual Senate committee hearing featuring senior US law enforcement officials and quickly escalated into a confrontation between Patel and Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen.Patel rejects allegations as ‘categorically false’Van Hollen confronted Patel over allegations published in a recent article by The Atlantic that questioned Patel’s leadership of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.People also askAI powered insights from this story•5 QUESTIONSKash Patel has vehemently denied allegations of excessive drinking on the job and unexplained absences, which were published in an article by The Atlantic. He has called these claims "unequivocally, categorically false."Kash Patel filed a $250 million lawsuit against The Atlantic and journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick because he considered the article about his alleged drinking and conduct to be a "sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece" that damaged his reputation.An FBI spokesperson denied that any criminal leak investigation targeting a journalist connected to The Atlantic story was underway, stating that such a report was "completely false."The Atlantic's editor-in-chief criticized reports of an FBI criminal leak investigation targeting their reporter, calling it an "outrageous attack on the free press and the First Amendment" and vowing to defend their staff vigorously.Kash Patel's use of FBI resources has also been questioned after he attended celebrations with Team USA hockey in Italy. An FBI spokesperson defended the travel arrangements, stating it was pre-scheduled and personal expenses would be reimbursed.The report alleged Patel had engaged in “bouts of excessive drinking” and had unexplained absences that raised concerns inside the FBI.Patel forcefully denied the accusations.“I will not be tarnished by baseless allegations,” Patel told the senator.He added that the claims were “unequivocally, categorically false.”Hearing turns confrontationalThe hearing became visibly tense as Patel interrupted and shouted over Van Hollen while defending himself against the allegations.Patel also sought to counterattack politically by referencing Van Hollen’s previous trip to El Salvador involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who had been detained there after an arrest in Maryland.“You were down there slinging margaritas,” Patel said during the exchange, drawing attention to the senator’s past visit.The confrontation marked one of the most contentious moments of the hearing.According to the lawsuit, Patel argues the story damaged his reputation.The Atlantic has strongly defended its reporting.The publication said it stands by the article and plans to vigorously contest what it described as a “meritless lawsuit.”The report, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, claimed investigators were examining how information from anonymous sources reached the publication.According to the report, the inquiry was described as an “insider threat investigation.”FBI denies journalist investigationAn FBI spokesperson denied that any such investigation targeting a journalist was underway.“This is completely false,” FBI spokesman Ben Williamson told MS Now.“No such investigation
Trump has repeatedly claimed that his 2016 Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama were involved in orchestrating politically motivated surveillance against his campaign.FBI Director Kash Patel’s remarks revive long-standing disputes over the origins of the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation and the use of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants. (File photo)(REUTERS)FBI Director Kash Patel has accused the FBI of misleading a secret surveillance court in order to obtain warrants used to monitor President Donald Trump and members of his circle during the 2016 presidential campaign and the years that followed.Patel speaking to Fox News alleged that political actors used unverified intelligence to trigger federal surveillance.“It took me two years of my life to prove the following: that a political party in the United States of America in the 21st century would go overseas and hire some bogus intelligence asset to manufacture fraudulent, fake, unverified information,” Patel said.He continued: “And then take those packaged lies that they had paid for with campaign finance funds and go into a secret surveillance court and illegally spy on your opponent to be the president of the United States.”References long-running Trump allegationsTrump has repeatedly claimed that his 2016 Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama were involved in orchestrating politically motivated surveillance against his campaign. Both Clinton and Obama have denied those allegations.Patel’s remarks revive long-standing disputes over the origins of the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation and the use of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants.Patel says FISA warrants were later ruled invalidPatel reportedly told Fox News that warrants approved by the FBI and signed by former FBI Director James Comey were eventually rescinded by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.“The FISA court themselves came back and said these warrants were illegal,” Patel said.He added: “The FBI did not provide evidence of exculpatory evidence and innocence and that the FBI essentially lied in those applications and all the information was unverified.”Patel described the situation as unprecedented, saying: “I don't think that's ever happened before... Hollywood couldn't come up with this.”Claims he was personally surveilledPatel also alleged that he himself was targeted during the investigations.“I was illegally spied on by the likes of Rod Rosenstein and Chris Wray and 10 other staffers on the Hill and people who were elected to serve this country in the halls of Congress,” he said.He accused former officials of continuing what he described as the “weaponization” of federal law enforcement institutions.Background on Patel and the ‘Nunes Memo’Patel served on the National Security Council during Trump’s first term and later became deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism.He was also a key figure behind the 2018 “Nunes Memo,” a Republican-authored document alleging FBI bias and misconduct in the Trump-Russia investigation.Patel vows further investigationPatel argued that alleged abuses within federal institutions continued after Trump left office in 2021 and intensified under President Joe Biden.“I knew in the four years that we were out of office, that they continued to regenerate that institution of weaponization,” Patel said.He added: “So when I walked in the door, I said, ‘We only got a bit of it. We only got maybe half of it.’”Stay updated with the latest Trending, India , World and US news. HomeNewsUs NewsKash Patel alleges ‘bogus intelligence’ fueled Russia probe targeting Trump’s 2016 campaignMore
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