DNC official defends Hegseth: 'I actually think he's a pretty good guy'
Democratic National Committee (DNC) financial committee member Lindy Li seemingly backed President-elect Trump's Defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, a sharp shift away from recent scrutiny the former Fox News host has come under as he awaits Senate confirmation for the top post at the Pentagon.
"Maybe you're looking for someone to oppose the nomination, but I actually have personal interactions… because I've been on Fox and Friends, I've met Pete, he's my fellow Princetonian. I actually think he's a pretty good guy," Li said on NewsNation's "Morning in America."
"I'm just here to present the facts as I know it," Li added after receiving a somewhat surprised reaction from host Markie Martin.
Hegseth has come under fire related to allegations of sexual assault connected to an encounter he says was consensual, as well as previous comments he's made about not allowing women to be in combat roles in the military.
He's also faced allegations of excessive drinking. The New Yorker reported Sunday that Hegseth was forced to step down by two nonprofit advocacy groups he ran due to mismanagement of funds, sexual impropriety and excessive drinking, and NBC News reported Tuesday that Hegseth's drinking worried colleagues at Fox News, where he was a weekend host until earlier this month.
A New York Times story also reported that Hegseth’s mother sent him an email in 2018 accusing him of “routinely mistreating women for years” and displaying a “lack of character.” His mother, Penelope Hegseth, backtracked on those statements in a follow-up message, however, apologizing for her original email, claiming she sent the email “in anger, with emotion” when her son and his wife were going through a divorce.
Despite the backlash, Hegseth has vowed not to back down despite facing an uphill battle in the Senate. GOP members in the upper chamber seemed discouraged at Hegseth's confirmation chances.
Hegseth met Thursday with Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) along with Sen.-elect Jim Banks (R-Ind.) to rally support within the GOP conference.
But Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who some believe is one of the GOP members withholding support for Hegseth, declined to express support for him when asked during an interview on Fox News's "America's Newsroom." However, the Iowa senator did say she would be meeting with Hegseth next week—their second meeting—as he continues to make his pitch to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
NewsNation is owned by Nexstar, which also owns The Hill.