Topline
FBI Director Kash Patel has not publicly responded to the challenge he promised to accept from Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., to take an alcohol use disorder test amid concerns about Patel’s drinking habits.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel testifies during a Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 12, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
Van Hollen posted the results of the 10-question test to assess any problems with drinking on X on Wednesday, a day after he sparred with Patel in a Senate hearing about Patel’s allegedly problematic partying.
Patel told Van Hollen on Tuesday he would take the test if Van Hollen did, but more than 24 hours after Van Hollen posted his results, Patel has not said whether he completed the challenge.
The FBI did not respond to repeated inquiries from Forbes about when he would take the test.
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung issued the same statement used previously to defend Patel when when asked about his unresponsiveness and whether the president was concerned about the alcohol abuse allegations: “Under President Trump and Director Patel’s leadership at the FBI, crime across the country has plummeted to the lowest level in more than 100 years and many high profile criminals have been put behind bars. Director Patel remains a critical player on the Administration’s law and order team.”
The White House referred questions about the test to the FBI.
Rthercrucial Quote
“Director Patel agreed to this at the hearing, so I expect him to follow through,” Van Hollen said in a statement. “Given all the lies he told during the hearing, he’ll probably fudge the numbers here, but Americans deserve an honest answer. I don’t give a damn what people do in their private lives, but when that conduct compromises their ability to protect and serve the American people, it’s unacceptable.”
Tangent
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test is a 10-question screen developed by the World Health Organization to identify problematic alcohol consumption. The test is administered to active-duty military and other government officials. Each answer produces a score ranging from a severity level of 0-4. Van Hollen reported that he consumes alcohol two to three times a week, but answered “no” or “never” in response to the other nine questions, for a total score of three.
Key Background
Van Hollen and Patel during Tuesday’s Senate hearing accused each other of drinking on the job, when Van Hollen pressed Patel about a report in The Atlantic detailing allegations that his excessive drinking habits have affected his job performance. Van Hollen cited allegations that Patel’s security detail had trouble waking him up on multiple occasions after a night of drinking, calling the report “extremely alarming.” Patel denied it, alleging “it’s a total farce” and telling Van Hollen, “the only individual drinking on the taxpayer’s dime is you.” Patel and Van Hollen also clashed on X on Tuesday, with Patel posting a document suggesting Van Hollen’s campaign spent over $7,000 at a bar, to which Van Hollen responded: “You got me, I catered a holiday reception for my staff with campaign — not taxpayer — dollars! Now let’s see your receipts.” The Atlantic’s reporting fueled allegations that Patel could soon be fired, and while the White House has defended Patel publicly, Trump has reportedly expressed his frustrations to Patel in private. After Patel went viral for chugging beer in the locker room with the USA men’s Olympic-winning hockey team in February, Trump told Patel he was unhappy with both his conduct in the locker room and his use of an FBI plane to fly to Milan for the Olympics, according to NBC.
Further Reading
FBI Says Kash Patel Followed ‘Ethical Guidelines’ With Alleged Personalized Bourbon Gifts (Forbes)
Kash Patel Sues The Atlantic For $250M Over Drinking, Absentee Allegations (Forbes)
Kash Patel Promises He’ll Sue The Atlantic On Monday After Report Of Excessive Drinking (Forbes)