MUST WATCH: Kash Patel Gloriously OWNS Chris Van Hollen After His Questioning Backfireshttps://pjmedia.com/sarah-anderson/2026/05/12/must-watch-kash-patel-owns-chris-van-hollen-at-senate-hearing-n4952790There are only two reasons why I even know who Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) is.
The first is that ridiculous trip he made to El Salvador to have margaritas with MS-13 gang banger Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
The second is that every time he's a part of a Senate hearing with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he says something stupid and Rubio completely owns him.
...
Well, on Tuesday, it was FBI Director Kash Patel's turn. During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Van Hollen, who never has anything of substance to say, resorted to bringing up tabloid rumors from The Atlantic about Patel's "excessive drinking." Here's what he said:
Multiple reports, including reporting by The Atlantic, have alleged episodes of excessive drinking, unexplained absences, and behavior that concern current and former FBI and DOJ officials. 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?1.
"Unequivocally, categorically false," Patel replied.
"So there have been no occasions during your tenure when FBI personnel were unable to promptly reach you?"1. Van Hollen asked.
Patel responded: "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?" Van Hollen asked again, unhappy he didn't get the answer he wanted.1.
Patel wasn't taking the bait: "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."
...
"I'm not saying it, uh, Director Patel. I, I... It's been written and documented, and I..." Van Hollen began sputtering.1.
"You are literally saying it," Patel replied without missing a beat.2.
After a bit of back-and-forth, the FBI director turned the tables.
"... the only person that was slinging margaritas in El Salvador on the taxpayer dollar with a convicted gang-banging rapist was you," he said, adding, "The only person that ran up a $7,000 bar tab in Washington, D.C. at the Lobby Bar was you. So the only individual in this room that has been drinking on taxpayer dime during the day is you."3.
1. Van Hollen was relying on an unconfirmed, totally denied, annoymorously-sourced report by the NYT or WashPost or The Atlantic (or some other Dem-shill MSM outlet). He thought he could unsettle Kash Patel with the implied threat of being charged with perjury. Patel had the poise of being prepared and speaking the truth. After two tries and being challenged, Van Hollen was the one unsettled, and he blinked.
2. Table-turning, Part 1. Patel turned Van Hollen's weaselly semi-denial back onto Van Hollen.
3. Table-turning, Part 2, Patel called out, with the receipts, Van Hollen's own drinking bouts.
Will Dens ever realize that Trump's officials come prepared with facts, are ready to fight back, and are Hella-smarter than Dem Congress-Critters?