From New York Post · · 2m
Kash Patel's chaotic Senate hearing goes completely off the rails
Democrats attacked the FBI director over drinking allegations, hiring standards, and beer chugging with Olympic athletes.
In brief
Democrats attacked the FBI director over drinking allegations, hiring standards, and beer chugging with Olympic athletes. Senate Democrats used a routine FBI oversight hearing to grill Kash Patel on personal conduct rather than policy, turning it into a chaotic confrontation. Originally reported by New York Post.
Democrats attack Patel's drinking habits
Sen. Mazie Hirono accused Patel of being so drunk that briefings had to be rescheduled. She goaded him into taking an alcohol test based on an Atlantic report he's suing over.
“You have been so drunk that briefings have been rescheduled so you could sleep it off”
Beer chugging video fuels the fire
Footage of Patel chugging beer with the US Olympic hockey team became ammunition for critics. He defended it, saying the players invited him to their locker room.
“I go where I want to go after delivering the most prolific crime reduction in US history.”
Booker calls Patel a frat boy
Sen. Cory Booker compared Patel to an 18-year-old trying to join a fraternity, calling him an embarrassment and disgrace. He accused Patel of using FBI resources to intimidate journalists.
“He's like an 18-year-old kid who wants to join a fraternity that he could never be a member of”
Chairman tells Booker to shut up
Booker went minutes over his time limit raging at Patel. Chairman Chuck Grassley finally grumbled, asking if Booker was ready to shut up.
“Are you ready to shut up?”
Bizarre bestiality hiring question emerges
Sen. Dick Durbin questioned Patel about loosened FBI background check standards, including more leniency on bestiality before age 18. Patel said those applicants were victims, not perpetrators.
“Applicants who've engaged in bestiality means they were victims of bestiality.”
Patel explains human trafficking context
Patel clarified that trafficking victims are sometimes forced into degrading acts including bestiality. Some of these individuals later become law enforcement officers.
Democrats slam Patel as least qualified
Durbin called Patel the least qualified and most partisan FBI director in history. Democrats also pressed him on purging personnel involved in Capitol riot and Mar-a-Lago cases.
Patel touts crime reduction wins
Despite the attacks, Patel highlighted FBI successes: criminal arrests up 80%, violent crime arrests up 90%, and all Top 10 Most Wanted captured. The bureau also stopped an ISIS-inspired attack in Pittsburgh.
“We haven't captured nine of the Top 10 Most [Wanted] individuals on our list. We've captured ten”
The headline
Senate Democrats used a routine FBI oversight hearing to grill Kash Patel on personal conduct rather than policy, turning it into a chaotic confrontation.
