Andrew F. Puzder, the fast-food chief executive that heads CKE Restaurants, whose holdings include the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s chains, is out as President Donald Trump's nominee for Labor Secretary. This is yet another Trump defeat coming on the heels of the resignation of retired General Michael Flynn as National Security Adviser.

Mr. Puzder had thought he had beaten back the accusations against him about spousal abuse. After all, the charges were lodged during a 1988 divorce proceeding. However, he was done in by a private screening of a videotape recorded in 1990 from the "Oprah Winfrey Show" which featured his ex-wife, Lisa Fierstein, laying out abuse charges about him.

Lisa Fierstein was in disguise for the videotaping of the "Oprah" show. Republican Maine U.S. Senator Susan Collins confirmed on Monday that she had viewed the video. It was provided to senators on the condition that it not be made public. The Oprah episode was titled, “High-Class Battered Women.”

Even conservative publications attacked Andrew Puzder

Conservative publications also attacked Mr. Puzder, which also contributed to his demise. The publications which included Breitbart and the National Review focused on his employment of an "undocumented immigrant" as a housekeeper.

He claimed to have unaware that she was "undocumented" and when he discovered this fact, he immediately ended her employment at his household. He added he also help her gain "legal status" and paid back taxes in full to the I.R.S. and the state of California over the hiring.

Another factor in his withdrawal was a vigorous campaign by Democrats against Mr.

Puzder, including his opposition to a minimum wage, deregulate workplace safety, and softening of overtime rules. He has also been a loud opponent of the Affordable Care Act and favors repeal. He has also been criticized as a sexist as reflected by his fast-food ads which show bikini-clad women eating monstrous hamburgers. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders called the demise of Mr.

Puzder as a "victory for millions of workers."

Andrew Puzder could not get Republican support

In the end, Mr. Puzder failed to get enough Republican support led by Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, John Thune of South Dakota, Rob Portman of Ohio, Johnny Isakson of Georgia and Tim Scott of South Carolina.

Other nominees have a 'nanny problem'

Other Cabinet nominees have faced the same issue, including Commerce Department nominee Wilbur Ross. The Senate has yet to act on his appointment. Trump's nominee for Budget Director, Rep. Mick Mulvaney, Republican of South Carolina, also has a "nanny problem."
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