Former colleagues of Pete Hegseth, the contentious nominee for Secretary of Defense, have reached out to two Republican senators, as reported by Raw Story on Wednesday.
Senator Ron Johnson from Wisconsin shared with the outlet that he had conversed with “pretty solid references” regarding the ex-co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend.
“I believe most of us have an inclination to support the president’s choices for nominees,” he remarked. “There’s certainly no doubt that Pete is excelling in connecting with people, and I’d also mention that his associates from Fox who contacted me have provided him with outstanding endorsements.”
Johnson further explained that consulting those who have worked alongside Hegseth at Fox is a usual practice and “is what one does during any job interview.”
Moreover, Senator Kevin Cramer from North Dakota indicated that someone from Fox reached out to him as well. He mentioned having called three more former colleagues of Hegseth.
“They think highly of him,” he noted. “That’s very comforting.”
Nevertheless, Hegseth’s nomination is marred by various controversies, including allegations regarding his workplace behavior.
This month, several former associates of Hegseth informed NBC News that his alcohol consumption raised concerns and impacted his morning hosting responsibilities. This revelation came after a report in The New Yorker claimed that Hegseth frequently drank while managing two veterans’ organizations, at times needing assistance to leave official gatherings.
In light of these claims, Hegseth asserted that he would refrain from drinking alcohol if he were confirmed as Secretary of Defense, which is essentially a role that demands constant availability.
His pursuit of sufficient votes for confirmation has even led to his mother, Penelope Hegseth, making a public plea for support on Fox News.
The spotlight on Penelope arose as part of a reputation management effort after The New York Times highlighted her previous criticism of her son, who has experienced multiple infidelities, calling him an “abuser of women.”
It remains uncertain who from Fox has been engaging with Republican lawmakers—though certain hosts have publicly conveyed reasons for supporting him.
For example, Brian Kilmeade suggested that some might empathize with Hegseth due to potential “hatred” towards their former spouses.
