As @ZcohenCNN wrote in our story, Pete Hegseth "played an unusually hands-on role" as the colonel decided to share his story – with Hegseth "engaging in the planning process for the '60 Minutes' interview far more than is typical for a Defense Secretary." https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/12/politics/pentagon-pressed-airmen-shot-down-over-iran-to-participate-in-60-minutes-interview