FBI Director Kash Patel received a wealth of harsh criticism online after he appeared to employ the “I know you are, but what am I” defense during congressional testimony on Tuesday. Patel seemed to snap at Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) for reiterating allegations of excessive drinking, erratic behavior and unexplained absences, including those made in a bombshell Atlantic piece published last month. During the tense back-and-forth, Patel continued to deny the allegations against him while criticizing Van Hollen for his meeting in El Salvador with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man the Trump administration wrongfully sent to the country’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT. “The only person that was slinging margaritas in El Salvador on the taxpayer dollar with a convicted gang-banging rapist was you,” Patel said. “Director Patel, this suggests to me that the allegations are true,” Van Hollen replied, shouting over Patel. Patel continued to bark his talking points at Van Hollen, as the senator pressed him for answers. “The fact that you mention that indicates that you don’t know what you’re talking about,” Van Hollen said, referring to the Abrego Garcia meeting. “The only thing I know is that you’re the one drinking margaritas with felons,” Patel said. “Actually, that’s a false statement, and I’m asking you about your statements,” Van Hollen said. Abrego Garcia has not been convicted of the crimes that Patel accused him of, and Van Hollen’s visit last year did not include “slinging margaritas” as the FBI director suggested. Critics slammed Patel’s behavior as unbecoming of an FBI director, with some even suggesting he may have been intoxicated during the hearing and others saying he was clearly snapping under the pressure of public scrutiny:It was wild last year to watch White House officials poker-face their way through the lie that Kilmar Abrego Garcia was a "convicted" criminal, and even more wild to see Kash Patel repeat the same lie here for no other reason than to clap back at Van Hollen--while under oath! https://t.co/TkSVurqL04— Andrew Egger (@EggerDC) May 12, 2026I caught a lot of crap during the Kavanaugh hearings because I insisted temperament matters and his was disqualifying. I still say it matters, and watching the constant meltdowns from members of the Trump administration should be more than adequate proof of that, surely. https://t.co/1Np1oCUGpD— Jennifer Erin Valent 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@JenniferEValent) May 12, 2026Kash Patel is bonkers and blatantly lied to Congress throughout this hearing — just like every other member of Trump’s cabinet. https://t.co/lrfmX9uCZm— Polly Sigh (@dcpoll) May 12, 2026Relatedsenate CongressFBIfbi directorkash patelClose