FBI Director Kash Patel was pressed by Senate Democrats at a hearing Tuesday over reports that his heavy alcohol use compromised his ability to do his job. Patel sued The Atlantic magazine for defamation, seeking $250 million, after journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick reported he has alarmed colleagues with episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences. On Tuesday, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen grilled Patel on the allegations. Patel exploded, hurling insults and false claims at the senator, before finally agreeing to take an alcohol screening test.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen: “And so, there have been no occasions when your security detail had difficulty waking or locating you. Is that right?”

Kash Patel: “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.”

Sen. Chris Van Hollen: “I’m not saying it, Director Patel. It’s been written and documented.”

Kash Patel: “You are literally saying it.”

Sen. Chris Van Hollen: “No, I’m saying that these are reports, Director Patel.”

Kash Patel: “No, unlike — unlike your baseless reports” —

Sen. Chris Van Hollen: “And I will say, Director Patel” —

Kash Patel: — “the only person that was slinging margaritas in El Salvador on the taxpayer dollar with a convicted gang-banging rapist was you.”

Sen. Chris Van Hollen: “You know, the fact” —

Kash Patel: “The only person that ran up a $7,000” —

Sen. Chris Van Hollen: “Director Patel” —

Kash Patel: — “bar tab in Washington, D.C.” —

Sen. Chris Van Hollen: “This suggests to me” —

Kash Patel: — “at the Lobby Bar was you.”

Sen. Chris Van Hollen: “This suggests to me that the allegations” —

Kash Patel: “So the only individual in this room that has been drinking on” —

Sen. Chris Van Hollen: — “are true.”