Patel’s own legal problems — a 2001 underage public intoxication arrest in Richmond, Virginia, and a 2020 reckless driving charge that was reduced in Arlington — complicate his case to senators as he seeks to become the country’s top cop amid concerns he will not be independent from President Donald Trump and prosecute the president’s perceived enemies and members of the so-called deep state.
Patel was not required to respond to the charges in a questionnaire he provided to the Judiciary Committee before Thursday’s hearing, according to a copy of that document obtained by the Washington Examiner.
But court documents demonstrate how Patel, a former Justice Department prosecutor, was fined $200 and legal fees after he was caught driving at least 20 mph more than the speed limit in 2019 before pleading guilty to a reduced sentence in 2020.
A spokeswoman for…
