FBI Director Faces Off Against Lawmaker Over Drinking Allegations

FBI Director Kash Patel vehemently denied accusations leveled against him regarding excessive alcohol consumption and absenteeism, during a heated budget hearing with a Democratic lawmaker on Tuesday.

The allegations, reported by The Atlantic, provoked a defiant response from Patel, who is pursuing legal action against the publication and termed the claims as 'unequivocally, categorically false'.

In a contentious exchange with Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Patel interrupted and accused the senator of 'slinging margaritas' in El Salvador, countering the potential impact of the article that criticized his leadership of the FBI.

(With inputs from agencies.)