Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has taken a bold step by publicly sharing the results of an alcoholism test and challenging FBI Director Kash Patel to do the same. The Maryland Democrat posted the outcome of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) on Wednesday, daring Patel to follow suit.
Background of the Exchange
The challenge stems from a heated exchange between Van Hollen and Patel on Tuesday, which centered on an article published by The Atlantic last month. The article had made allegations regarding Patel's drinking habits. During their discussion, which some observers described as "bonkers," the two repeatedly accused each other of lying. Ultimately, Patel agreed to undergo an alcoholism test if Van Hollen would do the same.
Van Hollen Follows Through
True to his word, Van Hollen completed the AUDIT, a screening tool developed by the World Health Organization to identify potential alcohol use disorders. He then shared his results on social media. "Given all the lies he told yesterday, I imagine he’ll fudge the numbers here, but let’s see yours, Director Patel," Van Hollen wrote in a tweet.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Patel had not responded to Van Hollen's post. It remains unclear whether the FBI director will take the test. Even if he does, the results would not constitute an official medical diagnosis, as the AUDIT is a self-reported questionnaire.
