WASHINGTON

By ERIC TUCKERAssociated Press

FBI Director Kash Patel has strongly denied allegations of excessive drinking on the job. The accusations came up during a budget hearing Tuesday. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen confronted Patel about a recent article in The Atlantic magazine critical of his leadership. Patel, who has sued over the story, called the claims “unequivocally, categorically false.” He also accused Van Hollen of “slinging margaritas” during a visit to El Salvador last year. The heated exchange happened at an annual Senate committee budget hearing with other senior law enforcement leaders present.

WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Kash Patel angrily lashed out at a Democratic lawmaker at a budget hearing Tuesday, calling allegations that he drinks excessively on the job and has been unreachable at times to his staff “unequivocally, categorically false.”

“I will not be tarnished by baseless allegations,” Patel told Sen. Chris Van Hollen when the Maryland Democrat confronted him about a recent article in The Atlantic magazine that painted an unflattering portrait of his leadership of the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency. Patel has sued over the story. The Atlantic has said it stands by its reporting and would vigorously defend against the “meritless lawsuit.”

Patel shouted over Van Hollen and sought to turn the tables by accusing him of “slinging margaritas” in El Salvador, a reference to a visit the Democrat paid last year to Kilmar Abrego Garcia while he was jailed there following his arrest in Maryland.

The testy exchange occurred at an annual Senate committee budget hearing featuring Patel and other senior law enforcement leaders.