Pete Hegseth's drinking worried colleagues at Fox News, sources tell NBC News

[highplainsdem]

Source: NBC

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, drank in ways that concerned his colleagues at Fox News, according to 10 current and former Fox employees who spoke with NBC News.

Two of those people said that on more than a dozen occasions during Hegseth’s time as a co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend,” which began in 2017, they smelled alcohol on him before he went on air. Those same two people, plus another, said that during his time there he appeared on television after they’d heard him talk about being hungover as he was getting ready or on set.

One of the sources said they smelled alcohol on him as recently as last month and heard him complain about being hungover this fall.

None of the sources with whom NBC News has spoken could recall an instance in which Hegseth missed a scheduled appearance because he’d been drinking.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/pete-hegseths-drinking-worried-colleagues-fox-news-sources-tell-nbc-ne-rcna181471

[Shermann]

1. Maybe he has a conscience that needs to be chemically quieted. nt

[Lovie777]

2. But not with women.............

ok.

[Evolve Dammit]

3. By all means, give him the nuclear codes....

[riversedge]

4. "He's such a charming guy, but he just acted like the rules didn't apply to him," one of the former employees said.

[highplainsdem]

6. And three employees said they felt like they had to babysit him...

[travelingthrulife]

10. Definition of a malignant narcissist isn't it?

What a hot mess and Trump isn't even in office yet.

[Silent Type]

5. Sounds like we don't really need FBI vetting on someone as unqualified as this POS.

[drray23]

7. For these right wingers different rules apply.

I can't fathom anybody at my workplace getting away with that. They would be given counseling first if they have a drinking problem and placed on leave. If they persisted they would be fired.

[FakeNoose]

8. Chump is a notorious tee-totaller, due to his brother dying of alcoholism

I find it perplexing that he'd give that much authority for the Defense and Security of the USA to someone who has no control over his drinking impulses. If nothing else, he'd be a good target for blackmail by our enemies.

[cstanleytech]

9. I'm wondering, is there any legal ethical problems Musky will face as part of DODGE?

I mean over the government posting on X and his earning profits from the ads and tracking data he sells from the user activity on X? Surely that's a conflict of interest that will take a certain amount of oversight. Not that it'll mean much as Trump would just pardon him.

[travelingthrulife]

11. One would think his drug habit would be disqualifying as it is when we apply

for jobs.

[cstanleytech]

12. I'm thinking about things like SpaceX contract awards and his income from X.

[Kid Berwyn]

13. Sad day for America when tapping Fox Noise for a Secretary of Defense.

Oh well.

[Initech]

14. Now the asshole is giving pity parties on Fox saying he's being "Kavanaugh'ed."

Poor choice of words, there, Petey.

[William Gustafson]

20. Yea, I seem him today saying he has found Jesus, and his drinking has stopped....

Like every drunk that has been caught....

[uncledad]

15. Yeah but Lloyd Austin didn't tell President Biden about his cancer diagnoses.

So there!

[Clouds Passing]

16. That's all we need is a raging drunk as secretary of defense. Great idea

[IzzaNuDay]

17. He said he won't drink if confirmed!

Hegseth was quoted as saying he would quit drinking if confirmed. He doesn’t appear to be the type of person who always tells the truth.

I’m not familiar with alcoholism, but is making conditional promises a thing with alcoholism?

[Iggo]

19. He's probably drunk right now.

[cadoman]

18. he'll be intoxicated during his confirmation hearing

Once he's publicly shown his inability to keep away from the drink the Senate will have no choice but to hold him to account.

They will literally smell the alcohol on him as he is answering their questions.