FBI Director Kash Patel grilled over drinking claims in fiery Senate showdown

Patel’s rise to lead the FBI marked a genuine first for South Asian Americans, but the accumulation of scandals has complicated that legacy.

Image via C-SPAN

FBI Director Kash Patel faced sharp questioning from Senate Democrats over reports of excessive drinking and broader misconduct on Tuesday, turning a budget hearing into an ugly public brawl.

Rumble on the Senate floor

Tensions boiled over early when Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) raised the Atlantic report that characterized Patel as prone…