Patel Still Hasn’t Released Alcohol Test After Promising He’d Take One—White House Defends Him

BreakingBusinessPatel Still Hasn’t Released Alcohol Test After Promising He’d Take One—White House Defends HimBySara Dorn,Forbes Staff. Sara Dorn is a Forbes news reporter who covers politics.Follow AuthorMay 14, 2026, 02:40pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.ToplineFBI Director Kash Patel has not publicly responded to the challenge he promised to accept from Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., to take an alcohol use disorder test amid concerns about Patel’s drinking habits. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel testifies during a Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 12, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)Getty ImagesKey FactsVan Hollen posted the results of the 10-question test to assess any problems with drinking on X on Wednesday, a day after he sparred with Patel in a Senate hearing about Patel’s allegedly problematic partying. Patel told Van Hollen on Tuesday he would take the test if Van Hollen did, but more than 24 hours after Van Hollen posted his results, Patel has not said whether he completed the challenge. The FBI did not respond to repeated inquiries from Forbes about when he would take the test. White House spokesperson Steven Cheung issued the same statement used previously to defend Patel when when asked about his unresponsiveness and whether the president was concerned about the alcohol abuse allegations: “Under President Trump and Director Patel’s leadership at the FBI, crime across the country has plummeted to the lowest level in more than 100 years and many high profile criminals have been put behind bars. Director Patel remains a critical player on the Administration’s law and order team.”The White House referred questions about the test to the FBI. if (!window.cnxel) { window.cnxel = {}; w...