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Concerns have been raised about Pete Hegseth’s leadership abilities due to his past troubles at work. The individual chosen by President-elect Donald J. Trump for defense secretary had reportedly caused two nonprofits to go into debt. Additionally, there were instances of drinking that persisted during his time as a Fox News personality.
Written by Sharon LaFraniere, David A. Fahrenthold, Dave Philipps, and Kate Kelly.
Shortly after joining Fox News as a contributor, Pete Hegseth quickly gained popularity on the conservative media outlet. As a respected veteran, he eventually became the weekend anchor of "Fox & Friends" and gained recognition from viewers nationwide, including President-elect Donald J. Trump.
After being impressed by Mr. Hegseth, 44, Mr. Trump selected him to lead the Department of Defense. However, what was less known to viewers of Fox News and likely to Mr. Trump was the undisclosed events occurring at the network.
During his initial years at the network, Mr. Hegseth’s excessive drinking and disruptive behavior at Fox News events led to situations where company officials or colleagues had to intervene. These incidents have raised concerns about his conduct and may hinder his chances of leading the Pentagon.
Despite Mr. Hegseth claiming to still have the support of Mr. Trump, reports on Tuesday suggested that the president-elect was considering selecting a different candidate for the important position.
According to a source familiar with the situation who wished to remain anonymous, Fox News’ human resources team investigated Mr. Hegseth’s behavior at the "Fox & Friends" Christmas party in 2016 and had a discussion with him about it.
In December, Mr. Hegseth attended a wedding for a Fox News producer and became very intoxicated. Witnesses saw him having difficulty standing in the men’s bathroom. Two individuals who were aware of the incident but wished to remain anonymous revealed that friends had to arrange for a producer to take Mr. Hegseth home so he could be on set by 6 a.m.
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