FBI Director Kash Patel and Sen. Chris Van Hollen clashed again at a Senate hearing over alleged misleading statements and whether lying to Congress is a crime.

A renewed clash between FBI Director Kash Patel and Sen. Chris Van Hollen erupted Tuesday, as the Maryland Democrat pressed Patel on claims that Patel had misled Congress earlier about Van Hollen’s trip to El Salvador.

The confrontation took place during a second round of questioning at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. Van Hollen, the ranking member of the committee, returned to earlier points of contention after first disputing Patel’s answers about the Senator’s travel.

During the latest exchange, Van Hollen asked Patel whether he had reviewed comments by Brian Driscoll, a figure associated with the allegations surrounding Patel’s explanation for Driscoll’s firing. Patel replied that he had not had a chance to read or listen to Driscoll’s statements.

From there, Van Hollen pivoted back to his earlier accusation that Patel had made statements he described as provably false. Patel’s response was immediate and confrontational, telling Van Hollen “So did you,” which Van Hollen treated as an apparent admission that Patel had misled Congress.

Van Hollen rejected that interpretation and insisted that he had been asking questions and requesting answers to allegations rather than making claims himself.. He then argued that Patel had put forward “provably false statements” in the hearing—likening the account to claims Van Hollen characterized as circulating in right-wing media about margaritas in El Salvador. which he said were provably untrue.

As tensions rose, Van Hollen said it was “extremely troubling” for an FBI director to deliver statements he said were false in a formal congressional setting. He linked that concern to a broader question about the reliability of Patel’s other statements, culminating in a direct legal inquiry.

Van Hollen’s final question to Patel was whether Patel knew it is a crime to lie to Congress.

Patel responded, “I have not lied to Congress.” When Van Hollen pressed further, Patel refused to answer the specific “crime” question directly, insisting instead on his own position. Van Hollen then told Patel he had not asked him that.

The heated back-and-forth broadened beyond the El Salvador trip.. Patel and Van Hollen exchanged sharp remarks about alcohol and a bar tab. with Patel referencing costs in a financial filing and Van Hollen disputing how such spending was treated.. At one point. Van Hollen continued to press Patel’s refusal to answer the underlying legal question rather than letting the hearing shift to the side dispute.

In his closing remarks during the confrontation. Van Hollen said he was glad Patel had agreed to take a test related to alcohol issues. but he returned to his insistence that Patel still had not addressed whether lying to Congress is a crime.. He said the director’s failure to answer raised serious concerns.

Patel, for his part, remained combative, dismissing the line of questioning and accusing Van Hollen of dishonesty toward the public.

By the end of the exchange, Van Hollen said it was extremely troubling that Patel would not answer the question directly and characterized Patel’s conduct as disgraceful. Patel responded with further insults, and the standoff ended as Van Hollen concluded his questioning.

The confrontation marks a second sparring session between the two figures during the same hearing cycle.. It also underscores how quickly the dispute has shifted from a specific controversy over travel and statements into an argument about credibility. congressional oversight. and what Patel’s answers reveal about his broader conduct in public testimony.

Kash Patel Chris Van Hollen FBI director Senate Appropriations hearing lying to Congress El Salvador trip congressional testimony