Oprah Winfrey Releases Tape To Senate Of Trump Labor Nominee Puzder Abuse Allegations
On Monday, Oprah sent the Senate a copy of an old episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” – but not for entertainment purposes. The Oprah Winfrey Network provided a decades-old video where Labor Secretary nominee Andrew Puzder’s former wife leveled allegations of physical abuse against him, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Politico reported, “The video has been provided to senators in a Capitol Hill office building, according to people who have seen it. OWN did not immediately comment for this story.”
Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that will vote on Puzder’s nomination, said she was “deeply troubled” by the video.
“It was important for us to know all of the information about any candidate that comes before us,” Murray said in an interview.
Last month POLITICO reported that Puzder’s former wife, Lisa Fierstein, appeared in disguise on Oprah to discuss her abuse allegations, which she has since retracted, most recently in a letter to the Senate HELP Committee.
A few Republican Senators who serve on the HELP Committee are undecided on Puzder, including Sensators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Johnny Isakson of Georgia and Tim Scott of South Carolina.
Puzder’s confirmation hearing will be held this Thursday.
