WATCH: FBI Director Patel Blasts Senator's 'Drinking' Questions

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]I said in my opening remarks, I I I really don't care about your personal life so long as you are able to perform your public and official responsibilities, which are awesome responsibilities.

[00:00:14]Multiple reports, including reporting by The Atlantic, have alleged episodes of excessive drinking, unexplained absences, and behavior that concerned current and former FBI and DOJ officials.

[00:00:27]You have publicly denied those allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit. So, today as you testify before Congress, is it your testimony that those allegations are categorically false? Unequivocally categorically false. So, there have been no occasions during your tenure when FBI personnel were unable to promptly reach you.

[00:00:46]Absolutely not. You can ask my entire workforce. They hear from me at every single hour of the day, as do these great gentlemen here, as do the men and women of the interagency and state and local law enforcement and the White House. And so, there have been no occasions when your security detail had difficulty waking or locating you. Is that right?

[00:01:02]Nope, it's a total farce. I don't even know where you get this stuff, but it doesn't make it credible because you say so.

[00:01:07]I'm not saying it, Director Patel. I I It's been written and documented. You are literally saying it.

[00:01:13]>> No, I'm saying that these are reports, Director Patel.

[00:01:16]>> The The only person that ran up a $7,000 bar tab in Washington D.C. at the Lobby Bar was you. You're the only individual in this room that is drinking on taxpayer dime during the day is you.

[00:01:29]Director Patel, come on.