WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth faced intense scrutiny from Democrats during his confirmation hearing Tuesday over allegations of sexual assault, infidelity, drunken driving to work and criticism of women serving in the military.
At the beginning of the hearing, Senator Jack Reed (R.I.), the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, harshly criticized Hegseth, saying he lacked “the character, composure, and capabilities to serve as Secretary of Defense.” One of the mildest members of Congress on Capitol Hill.
But Hegseth, who previously served as a weekend host for Fox News, emerged from four hours of grilling with nothing but praise from Republicans and, barring any last-minute surprises, appears likely to be on track for a smooth confirmation as early as next week. . .
Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke to HuffPost about Hegseth’s accomplishments. “I think he got a ton of help today.”
Senate Majority Leader John Sun (R-S.D.) also dismissed concerns about the sexual assault allegations against him, saying, “He acquitted himself very well and made a strong case for why he should be Secretary of Defense.”
In more good news for Hegseth, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said she supports his confirmation after asking about sexual assault in the military and women serving in the military. Ernst initially appeared to have doubts about Hegseth’s nomination, prompting Trump supporters to lash out at her.
“Our next Commander-in-Chief has appointed Pete Hegseth to this role, and after conversations and listening to Iowans, and after performing his duties as a United States Senator, I will support President Trump’s nomination for Secretary of Defense,” Ernst said. Statement after hearing.
Hegseth confirmed her support for women serving in combat roles. This contradicts past statements questioning the suitability of women for combat roles, and he has pledged to appoint officials to the Department of Defense if they are confirmed to be focused on tackling sexual assault.
No Republican senators oppose Hegseth’s nomination, and at least four senators would be needed to block his confirmation in the Senate. But that doesn’t mean he’s out of the woods to become President-elect Donald Trump’s Pentagon leader.
Former Republican leader and hawkish Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had no comment Tuesday when asked for his view of Hegseth’s performance. So did Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a key Republican swing vote who has spoken out against sexual violence.
Meanwhile, Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) told POLITICO that he has not yet made a decision.
Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
Hegsett Withstood difficult questions. From Democratic lawmakers at the hearing.
Five Democratic female senators criticized Hegseth for his past comments opposing women serving in combat roles in the military. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), an Iraq War veteran who lost a leg while serving, was particularly critical of Hegseth, saying he was unqualified to lead the department.
“For women to do this job well, we have to change the way we look at them, and I don’t know if you have the ability to do that,” chided Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in another conversation focused on women. . army.
In another heated moment, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) pressed Hegseth on whether he thought someone who committed sexual assault should be disqualified from serving as secretary of defense. Kaine brought up a case in 2017 in Monterey, California, where a woman accused Hegseth of sexually assaulting her in some way, including preventing her from leaving a hotel room and ejaculating on her stomach.
Hegseth said the encounter was consensual and he has never been charged with a crime. But the details are unclear because he signed a non-disclosure agreement with the woman who made the allegations.
“So if it was a sexual assault, you wouldn’t be qualified to be the Minister of Defense, right?” Kaine asked Hegseth, who did not answer the question directly but instead referred to the allegations against him. “It was a false claim then, and it’s a false claim now,” Hegseth said.
They went back and forth several times. It was awkward and sharp, and Hegseth refused to answer questions at every turn.
When Kaine asked him about infidelity in his past relationships, Hegseth said, “I’m not a perfect person.” “I have failed at many things in my life, but thankfully I was saved through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.”
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) later told reporters that Kaine’s question was not surprising because Republicans knew the sexual assault allegations would come up at Hegseth’s hearing.
“I think Mr. Hegseth has responded. Now it’s a matter of moving forward and finding out whether this has made anyone else think twice about whether or not to support Mr. Hegseth,” Rounds said. “I don’t think it changed my mind.”
“I have failed at many things in my life, but thankfully I was saved through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.”
– Secretary of Defense candidate Pete Hegseth
Now in a minority in the Senate, Democrats can’t do much to block Hegseth’s confirmation other than complain loudly. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., went on the Senate floor and criticized Hegseth for dodging questions during a hearing about all the charges against him.
The countdown to Trump has begun
Support HuffPost
Already participated? Please log in to hide this message.
“Mr. Hegseth’s strategy appears to follow the five Ds of dodgeball: dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge,” Schumer said.
“His history of excessive drinking is troubling for someone seeking to lead our military, and his knee-jerk defiance of allegations of sexual assault undermines his credibility,” he said, referring to various allegations of past drinking that Hegseth has denied. He claimed that while working at Fox News, he showed up to work events drunk.
“Becoming the Secretary of Defense requires discipline, character, and discipline. Mr. Hegseth’s history shows that he lacks all of these qualities, and so far his hearing has not changed that,” Schumer said.
