Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen publishes alcohol test after Patel dispute

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, has shared the results of an alcohol test after challenging FBI Director Kash Patel.

Democrats are obsessed with the idea that members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, including Patel, have alcohol issues. These claims are bolstered by reports from outlets like The Atlantic, which claimed that the director has “bouts of excessive drinking” and can sometimes be difficult to reach. Van Hollen broached the topics presented in the article during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the FBI’s budget.

“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,” he lectured the director. “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.”

Patel agreed to take an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) if Van Hollen also agreed to take one, and on Wednesday, the senator posted his results on X and preemptively accused the director of “fudg[ing] the numbers.]

Look:

Yesterday, @FBIDirectorKash told me he’d take the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test if I did. Well, here’s mine.

Given all the lies he told yesterday, I imagine he’ll fudge the numbers here, but let’s see yours, Director Patel. pic.twitter.com/rYH2WupWb3

— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) May 13, 2026

Yesterday, [Patel] told me he’d take the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test if I did. Well, here’s mine. Given all the lies he told yesterday, I imagine he’ll fudge the numbers here, but let’s see yours, Director Patel,” Van Hollen wrote.

On the assessment, the senator admitted to drinking alcohol “2-3 times a week” but answered “never” on the rest of the self-report questions, earning him a total of three points.

X users reacted to his test:

you sound guilty Chris.

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) May 13, 2026

LMFAO and we are supposed to believe your answers?!?

FEEBLE AT BEST

— Spitfire (@RealSpitfire) May 13, 2026

You’ve really got your panties in a bunch over this.
The Senator doth protest too much, me thinks.

— PA VOTER (Marla) (@PAKAG2020) May 13, 2026

You drink 2-3 times a week? Second from highest level? That’s fairly concerning.

— Ezra A. Cohen (@EzraACohen) May 13, 2026

This is how you know Director Patel sent a torpedo below the water line.

I think you’re lying because a kicked dog hollers.

— SagebrushBirdhunter (@FanaticLurker) May 13, 2026

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