Two Republican senators have been contacted by former colleagues of embattled secretary of defense nominee Pete Hegseth, Raw Story reported Wednesday.
Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson told the outlet that he spoke with “pretty solid references” for the former Fox & Friends Weekend co-host.
“I think most of us have a bias toward supporting the president’s nominees,” he said. “I think there’s no doubt that Pete’s doing a good job meeting people, and I would say also his colleagues at Fox who reached out—they reached out to me—and really giving him just stellar recommendations.”
Johnson added that speaking with those who worked with Hegseth at Fox is normal and is “what you do with any job interview.”
Additionally North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer said someone at Fox initiated contact with him. Cramer also called three other former colleagues of Hegseth, he said.
“They love him,” he said. “It’s very reassuring.”
Yet among the litany of controversies surrounding Hegseth’s nomination is his reported workplace conduct.
Earlier this month, several of Hegseth’s former coworkers told NBC News that his consumption of alcohol was concerning and that it affected his morning hosting duties. That story came on the heels of a New Yorker report alleging that Hegseth regularly drank while on the job as manager of two veterans groups, sometimes even having to be carried out of official events.
In response, Hegseth said he would abstain from alcohol if confirmed as secretary of defense, which is essentially a 24/7 role.
Hegseth’s quest for enough confirmation votes also saw the 44-year-old’s mother begging for senators’ support on Fox News.
Penelope Hegseth’s entry into the public eye was part of a clean-up effort after The New York Times found that she once criticized her son, who has had multiple affairs, for being an “abuser of women.”
It’s unclear who exactly at Fox has been talking with Republicans in Congress—but some hosts have offered up on-air reasons why they should back him.
Brian Kilmeade, for instance, said that some could sympathize with Hegseth because they may “hate” their ex-wives.
