Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) on Sunday rejected the idea that Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's pick for the next administration's defense secretary, has a drinking problem.
“Now, if he had a drinking problem, that would be obvious, but the media should be ashamed of themselves for bringing up something that doesn't exist just because it goes through the Secretary of Defense.” Marin told anchor Jake. Watch “State of the Union” on CNN.
As Mr. Hegseth seeks to secure the role of head of the Pentagon, reports have emerged recently that he has been drinking to excess. Last week, The New Yorker reported that two nonprofit organizations run by Mr. Hegseth forced him to resign, citing mismanagement of funds, sexual misconduct, and excessive drinking, and NBC reported that Mr. Hegseth The report said his drinking caused concern among his former colleagues at Fox News.
Hegseth has come under increased scrutiny from Republican senators after recent revelations of past allegations of alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct.
Despite the controversy, Hegseth said Wednesday he would not back down and suggested in a post on social platform X that he was the target of a smear campaign by Democrats.
“I'm doing this for the militants, not the warmongers. The left is afraid of disruptors and changemakers. They're afraid of @realDonaldTrump and me,” he wrote. Ta.
Appearing on Sunday's “State of the Union,” Marin said, “There's a lot of alcohol flowing into Washington, D.C., on a daily basis, but that doesn't mean people are alcoholics or have drinking problems.” spoke. Because of that. ”
“I don't know, I have no idea,” he added. “I don't think it's a problem. I really hope the media moves on and starts focusing on what he can bring as secretary of defense, because he has a lot of great It also has certain characteristics.”
