Following a heated exchange with Maryland Democrat Sen. Chris Van Hollen during a subcommittee hearing, FBI Director Kash Patel posted a Federal Election Commission filing showing the senator’s campaign spent more than $7,000 at a Washington bar.
The clash erupted Tuesday during a tense Senate budget hearing in which Van Hollen questioned Patel about allegations of excessive drinking and claims that FBI personnel had difficulty reaching him while on duty.
Patel denied the claims, calling them “unequivocally, categorically false.”
The confrontation escalated when Van Hollen repeatedly asked Patel whether he understood that lying to Congress is a crime.
Patel responded: “Maybe the next time you run up a $7,000 bar tab, we can talk about it.”
Shortly afterward, Patel posted a copy of the FEC filing on X showing Van Hollen’s campaign paid $7,128 to Lobby Bar in Washington on Dec. 12, 2025. The filing listed the expense as “Catering for Event.”
Van Hollen later said the expenditure covered a “50-member staff party” and insisted no taxpayer money was involved.
The exchange came after Van Hollen referenced reports from The Atlantic alleging Patel engaged in heavy drinking and unexplained absences while leading the FBI.
Patel has denied the allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit related to the reporting.
“When your private actions make it impossible for you to perform your public duties, we have a big problem,” Van Hollen said during the hearing.
Van Hollen is horrible….supports illegal criminals and even flies to foreign countries to have margaritas with them at MD taxpayer expense. How does he get voted in? I don’t get it. Vote RED!!
Van Hollen is a very crooked no good POS! He has proven this over and over. He’s very pro criminal.
How ever were we blessed by having a dork like Van Hollen in our government?
Just unlucky!