Oklahoma Sen. Mullin confident Hegseth will be confirmed, predicts who Democrats will try to undermine next

Late. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., expressed confidence that Pete Hegseth would be confirmed as defense secretary despite opposition from GOP moderates. But Fox has learned that there are “still a few issues” with members (majority) regarding his confirmation.

Fox has also learned that there should be a full attendance in the Senate tonight. But there is a possibility that the vote to confirm Hegseth could be held open so a senator could come in late and vote, Fox has learned. If it comes down to a tie, Vice President JD Vance may be called in to break it in his role as president of the Senate.

Only one vice president has ever broken a tie to confirm a government official. It was former Vice President Pence in February 2017 to confirm Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education.

Hegseth cleared a procedural hurdle in the Senate on Thursday, setting up a final confirmation vote expected Friday night. Sens. However, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, both publicly stated their opposition to his nomination, meaning the GOP can only afford one more defector before Hegseth’s confirmation is lost.

Mullin said in an interview on the “Guy Benson Show” with guest host Jason Rantz that there are 50 “hard yes” votes for Hegseth to be confirmed and estimates he will receive as many as 52 votes, with all Democrats and the moderate Republicans from Alaska and Maine vote against.

“He will definitely be confirmed tomorrow,” Mullin told Rantz. “I don’t know what the White House schedule is, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was sworn in on Saturday.”

HEGSETH CLEARS SENATE OBSTACLES AND ADVANCED TO A FINAL CONFIRMATION VOTE

The Senate voted 51-49 to advance Hegseth’s nomination Thursday, triggering up to 30 hours of debate before a final vote. President Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary has faced intense grilling from Democrats about his qualifications for the post, as well as personal questions about his drinking habits and alleged sexual misconduct, which he has vehemently denied. Hegseth has said he would abstain from alcohol if confirmed.

Hegseth’s nomination faced another hurdle this week when reports emerged that his ex-sister-in-law alleged Hegseth had abused his second wife.

Two sources told CNN Hegseth’s ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth, gave a statement to the FBI about Hegseth’s alleged alcohol use. The outlet said one of the sources said Samantha told the FBI, “He drinks more often than he doesn’t.”

On Tuesday, Fox News obtained a statement from Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, who claims he has an alcohol abuse problem and at times caused his ex-wife, Samantha, to fear for her safety. Danielle was previously married to Pete’s brother and has no relationship with Samantha.

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However, Danielle added that she herself never witnessed any abuse, physical or sexual, by Pete towards Samantha.

Samantha has also denied any physical abuse in a statement to NBC News.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., blasted Hegseth at a news conference Thursday, urging Republicans to join Democrats in opposition to the former Fox News host and Army National Guard.

“Hegseth is so completely unqualified that he ranks up there (as) … one of the very worst nominees that could be put forward,” Schumer said.

HEGSETH LAWYER CLAIMS ‘FALSE AND DOUBTFUL STATEMENT’ FROM EX-FIANCE

“People’s lives depend on it – civilians and of course the men and women of the armed services – and Pete Hegseth has shown that not only is he incapable of leading a large organisation, he often proves incapable of showing up or show up in a way where he could get something done, He is so out of the mainstream and so unqualified for DOD that I hope we get our Republican colleagues to join us.

Mullin predicted that once Hegseth is confirmed, Democrats will turn their attention to another of Trump’s nominees, Tulsi Gabbard, who is the president’s choice to be director of national intelligence.

“I think they’re going to turn their attention from Pete directly 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 Tulsi, and then after that I’m sure they’re probably going to go to (Health Secretary nominee) Bobby Kennedy.”

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The Oklahoma Republican also suggested that Democratic senators who may have presidential ambitions could win by showing opposition to Trump’s nominee.

“You have all these Democratic senators now jumping up and down wanting attention so they can champion the Democratic Party. What they don’t realize is the position they took under Biden and when Trump was in office, is precisely why they were thrown out of office,” he said.

Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.