Multiple prominent Republican congressional lawmakers and other high-ranking officials across the country shared their condolences after the death of legendary college football coach Lou Holtz on Wednesday. 

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The GOP lawmakers to speak out included Sens. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Todd Young, R-Ind., Tom Cotton, R-Ark. and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Reps. Greg Murphy, R-N.C. David Rouzer, R-N.C., Erin Houchin, R-Ind., Steve Womack, R-Ark., Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and Rudy Giuliani. 

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At the time of publication, prominent Democrat leaders have appeared silent on Holtz's passing, including prominent Democrats with a football background. 

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who worked as an assistant high school football coach, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who was a recruiting target for Holtz in 1986 as a college prospect, Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, who played in the NFL, and Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Ill., who played football for the University of Illinois, have all not made posts acknowledging Holtz's death. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to Waltz, Booker, Allred and Buckner's offices for comment. 

Lou Holtz, who spent 33 years leading teams, including the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, died Wednesday. He was 89. 

The football team released a statement from Holtz’s family, saying he died surrounded by family at his home in Orlando, Florida. 

"Louis Leo ‘Lou’ Holtz, legendary college football coach, Hall of Famer, bestselling author, and one of America’s most influential motivational voices, has passed away at the age of 89 in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by family," the statement said. 

"Born January 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia, Holtz rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most respected figures in college athletics. 

"Over a remarkable five-decade career, he led college programs at William & Mary, N.C. State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and South Carolina. He transformed every team he inherited and captured the 1988 National Championship with the Fighting Irish. Holtz was preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than 50 years, Beth, with whom he shared a life grounded in faith, devotion, and service."

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Holtz had reportedly entered hospice care in late January. 

Holtz was the first coach in NCAA history to bring six different football programs to bowl games, including William & Mary (1969-71), N.C. State (1972-75), Arkansas (1977-83) and South Carolina (1999-2004). The only team he wasn’t able to accomplish the feat with was Minnesota, which he led from 1984-85.

In recent years, Holtz has been a stern supporter of President Donald Trump, even saying in February 2024 that Trump needed to "coach America back to greatness!"

Near the end of Trump's first term, shortly after former President Joe Biden defeated him in the 2020 election, Trump awarded Holtz with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of the United States. 

"I will say this about Lou: Everybody loves him," Trump said during the ceremony in December 2020. "Everybody respects him. He’s tough as hell, and yet they all respect Lou. They just — it’s amazing. They love him, and they respect him. Sometimes, it’s a combination that doesn’t come together, you know? They respect, but you are — you are something. ‘I never coached football; I coached life,’ he said. And it’s true. His players really always loved him."

Holtz, who also spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention, was humbled by the honor. 

"It’s the highest honor or award you could possibly receive, and I receive it with mixed emotions. First of all, I’m humbled," Holtz told "Fox & Friends" afterward. "There are many more people far worthy than me, I can assure you. 

"Nobody is more appreciative than me. So, I’m excited to have this opportunity and, at the same time, I’m excited to receive it from President Trump. The president I admire and respect. I think he did a tremendous job."

At the time, Holtz also called Trump "one of the great presidents of my lifetime."

Holtz finished his coaching career with a 249-132-7 record in 388 games. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.   

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A House Oversight Committee has called seven more individuals to testify in Washington, D.C., about their ties to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell — including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates; Leon Black, co-founder of investment firm Apollo Global Management; and Kathryn Ruemmler, former White House counsel to former President Barack Obama.

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James Comer, R-Ky., the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, fired off a new round of letters Tuesday after interviewing former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary last week as part of the panel’s expanding probe.

Others called to testify include Lesley Groff, a former longtime executive assistant to Epstein; Sarah Kellen, another former Epstein employee; Doug Band, a longtime personal aide and counselor to Clinton; and tech billionaire Ted Waitt, a former boyfriend of Maxwell.

Addressing each individual, Comer wrote, "Due to public reporting, documents released by the Department of Justice, and documents obtained by the Committee, the Committee believes you have information that will assist in its investigation."

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A spokesperson for Gates told Fox News Digital that he will appear before the committee for a transcribed interview scheduled for May 19.

"Gates welcomes the opportunity to appear before the Committee," the spokesperson said. "While he never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein’s illegal conduct, he is looking forward to answering all the committee’s questions to support their important work."

According to the roughly 3 million emails the Department of Justice released during the Epstein investigation, Gates reportedly had affairs and sought medication to treat a sexually transmitted infection for himself and his wife at that time, Melinda French Gates, without her knowing. 

Last Tuesday, Gates reportedly acknowledged having affairs with two Russian women, which Epstein later discovered, but said they did not involve Epstein’s victims.

"I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit," Gates said, according to a town hall recording reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Gates also admitted he was "foolish" to have spent time with Epstein, the outlet reported.

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Billionaire Leon Black, set to testify on May 13, has been accused of raping an autistic 16-year-old girl in 2002 at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse, according to a high-profile lawsuit filed in summer 2023.

The victim alleged that Epstein and Maxwell groomed her to serve as a living "doll" for the late financier and his wealthy associates.

Black, who left Apollo Global Management in 2021, previously hired Epstein for personal tax advice, the firm said last month. 

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Ruemmler, who resigned as a top attorney at Goldman Sachs over her ties to Epstein, will appear before the committee on April 21, her spokesperson said Tuesday.

"Ruemmler welcomes the opportunity to appear before the committee," spokesperson Jennifer Connelly told Reuters. "She has done nothing wrong and had no knowledge of any ongoing criminal activity on his part."

Ruemmler previously served as a White House counsel to Obama and an associate counsel to Clinton.

According to DOJ documents, she reportedly received gifts from Epstein and counseled him on managing media questions regarding his criminal activities. Connelly told the outlet that she was a practicing criminal defense attorney at the time and had even represented a client in common with Epstein. 

FOX Business’ Rebecca Rosenberg and Reuters contributed to this report. 

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