Colin Carroll, a former employee at the Pentagon dismissed amid a leak at the Department of Defense, noted that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses was fixated on “peculiar details” after the signal group chat incident was uncovered.
Carol appeared on Saturday’s “The Megyn Kelly Show,” where he discussed his experiences in the Pentagon and recounted “Two Pete Stories” he witnessed firsthand.
“Do you think he’s doing alright?” Host Megyn Kelly inquired about Hegses.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. I can’t really say,” Carroll responded.
Carroll began detailing how well Hegses managed discussions concerning the budget when House Freedom Caucus members visited the Pentagon.
“The secretary excelled in that meeting. I’ve never witnessed such a situation. No secretary in my memory has been this effective with those members,” Carroll remarked.
“However, in more internal meetings, I’ve observed him being extremely focused, almost overly enthusiastic and vocal, in my view,” Carroll added.
Carroll, who previously served as chief of staff for former defense secretary Steve A. Feinberg, mentioned that he was unfamiliar with Hegses before his ascent to office.
“I’m just relaying my observations from my 90 days there,” he explained.
Carroll was terminated last week and had taken administrative leave earlier this month while the department was investigating the leak. Two of Hegses’ advisors were removed and escorted from the Pentagon.
The Department of Defense stated last month that it initiated an investigation into “recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information.”
Carol and Kelly’s discussion occurred as Hegses faced growing scrutiny to lead the department effectively.
Following initial revelations that Hegseth and other senior Trump administration officials were using the signal to communicate plans regarding Yemen’s Houthi Rebels, it was discovered he also utilized a secondary group chat with his family and personal attorney.
Hegseth asserts that the war plan was not disseminated and that the communication in the second chat is “unofficial” and “uncategorized.”
The Trump administration has continued to support Hegses despite recent reports, but political pundits are questioning his ability to manage the mounting pressure and whether he might be replaced by Trump in the future.
Oka sought comments from the Department of Defense.
