Rantz: Sen. Markwayne Mullin says Pete Hegseth confirmation a sure thing

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-OK, told Jason Rantz, guest hosting on “The Guy Benson Show,” that he’s confident the Pete Hegseth confirmation will go as planned tonight in the Senate.

“He’s definitely being confirmed (Friday),” Mullin explained. “I don’t know what the White House schedule is, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was sworn into office on Saturday.”

Mullin joined Jason Rantz moments after Hegseth cleared a crucial procedural hurdle in the Senate on Thursday. The confirmation vote is expected Friday evening. Hegseth can only afford to lose one vote after Republican Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said they will not back Hegseth.

Click here to listen to Mullin and Rantz discussing Hegseth on The Guy Benson Show.

More from Jason Rantz: Here’s what left-wing media choose to ignore after Jan. 6 mass pardons, commutations

Why was the Pete Hegseth confirmation in doubt?

As part of what seems to be a last-minute smear campaign to derail the Pete Hegseth confirmation, the former Fox News host was accused of abusing his second wife, Samantha Hegseth. But the supposed victim said it never happened.

An affidavit by Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth (who was married to Pete Hegseth’s brother and has no relationship with Samantha), claimed Samantha feared for her safety.

But Danielle Hegseth admitted to never witnessing any abuse, and Samantha Hegseth told NBC News that anyone speaking on her behalf is being untruthful.

“There was no physical abuse in my marriage,” Samantha Hegseth told NBC News.

“I do not have representatives speaking on my behalf, nor have I ever asked anyone to share or speak about the details of my marriage on my behalf, whether it be a reporter, a committee member, a transition team member, etc.,” she also told the network.

Sen. Mullin warns of more delays and trouble for Tulsi Gabbard

Though he said the Pete Hegseth confirmation is all but a guarantee, Mullin warns Democrats will be purposefully stalling other key nominations from President Donald Trump.

“I think they’re going to turn their attention from Pete straight to Tulsi Gabbard,” Mullin said, noting that Gabbard’s confirmation hearing is scheduled for next week. “They went from Matt Gaetz to Pete Hegseth. Now they’re going to go to Tulsi, and then after that, I’m sure they’ll probably move on to (health secretary nominee) Bobby Kennedy.”

The Senate Intelligence Committee will hold a hearing on Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to be Director of National Intelligence next Thursday. Politico reports two Republicans on the committee remain on the fence, making it unclear if she’ll have the support to make it to a full vote.

Gabbard is considered controversial for Director of National Intelligence due to her foreign policy stances, including past support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which drew bipartisan concern. Her departure from the Democratic Party, over its embrace of “wokeness” and rejection of free speech, created enemies of her previous colleagues. Critics also point to her limited experience in intelligence operations. Supporters argue her independent views and military background offer a fresh perspective.

Democrats are intentionally trying to stall the process even outside of Gabbard’s confirmation by forcing 30 hours of debate even when they know a candidate has enough Republican support.

“You have all these Democrat senators now that are jumping up and down wanting attention so they can be the champion of the Democrat Party. What they don’t realize is the position they took underneath Biden and when Trump was in office is exactly why they got kicked out of office,” Mullin explained to Jason Rantz.

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