House Democrats urge FBI Director Kash Patel to complete alcohol screening test

WASHINGTON, DC: House Judiciary Committee Democrats have called on FBI Director Kash Patel to complete a standardized alcohol use assessment amid allegations about his conduct.

Lawmakers raised concerns about whether his alleged behaviour could affect national security operations. 

The request comes alongside demands for additional disclosures and possible testimony under oath.

Patel has denied the allegations and taken legal action against a media outlet that reported on the claims.

Democrats seek alcohol assessment

In a letter led by Representative Jamie Raskin, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee asked Patel to take the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), a screening tool developed by the World Health Organization to identify harmful patterns of alcohol use.

They also requested that he submit a sworn statement confirming his responses and provide copies of security clearance questionnaires completed during his tenure.

The lawmakers cited what they described as a pattern of concerning conduct that they argued could have affected decision-making at the FBI.

The letter alleged that Patel’s availability may have been compromised during key moments, including delays related to Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants and responses to major investigations, such as a mass shooting at Brown University and the search for the assassin of Charlie Kirk.

It also claimed that inaccurate public statements had been made in connection with those cases.

“These glimpses of your relationship to alcohol would be alarming to see in an FBI agent; for us to see them in the FBI Director himself is shocking and indicative of a public emergency,” the letter stated.

The AUDIT questionnaire includes 10 questions assessing drinking frequency, dependency indicators, and related consequences, with scores of eight or higher considered indicative of hazardous or harmful alcohol use.

The letter also referenced public scrutiny over Patel’s activities, including a trip to Milan, where he attended a sporting event and was seen celebrating with athletes. 

Patel denies allegations, political pressure mounts

Patel has rejected the allegations and said they are unfounded.

On Monday, April 21, he filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic, which had reported that his alcohol consumption was a recurring concern among officials, citing interviews with current and former personnel.

At a press conference on Tuesday, April 21, Patel addressed the claims directly.

“I’ve never been intoxicated on the job. Any one of you that wants to participate, bring it on, I’ll see you in court,” he said.

“I’m the first one in, I’m the last one out,” Patel added. “I’m like an everyday American who loves his country, loves the sport of hockey, and champions my friends when they raise a gold medal and invite me to celebrate.”

The report cited by lawmakers included allegations that, on at least one occasion, security personnel had difficulty waking Patel and considered using forced entry to access a locked room.

These claims have not been independently verified in the congressional letter but were referenced as part of the broader inquiry.

Pressure has also emerged in the Senate.

Senator Dick Durbin, the Democratic whip, called for Patel’s removal, stating he had “weaponized the world’s preeminent investigative agency to serve the interests of one person, President Trump.”