Some GOP senators seem tepid on Hegseth nomination as allegations pile up
washington — Some Republican senators are expressing concern about President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of Pete Hegers to lead the Department of Defense, potentially putting his nomination at risk.
Hegseth has been meeting with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill this week to try to gain support ahead of his confirmation hearing, but he has faced a series of negative stories involving allegations of sexual misconduct. Financial mismanagement at veterans’ charitiesrepeated drunkenness and infidelity.
“Some of these articles are very disturbing. He obviously has an opportunity to defend himself here, but some of them are going to be difficult,” South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters on Tuesday. “Time will tell.”
Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, noted that he had also read the report and was aware of the allegations and said Hegers must address them.
“I want to know if these are true and I want to hear his side of the story and he’s going to have to address these issues,” he said Tuesday, adding that he wasn’t sure whether Hegseth’s nomination would face resistance.
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Monday, The New Yorker report Before becoming a full-time host at Fox News, Hegseth was forced to quit two nonprofit advocacy groups — Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans of America — after concerns over his alleged behavior, including being too aggressive while on the job. drunk), resulting in a hostile work environment and mismanagement of the charity’s funds. cbs news report Jessie Jane Duff, a Marine Corps veteran who served as one of Trump’s 2024 campaign executive directors, was the driving force behind the 2016 push to remove Trump from Veterans Concerned for America One of the expelled people.
Hegseth’s attorneys deny the accusations.
Wyoming Republican Sen. Cynthia Loomis said on Tuesday that the allegations “surprised all of us” and that his Senate confirmation “depends on how he addresses the issues raised.” Loomis said the accusations also caught Trump by surprise.
“I think some of the issues that have been raised previously regarding the events in California have been satisfactorily addressed and will not affect his nomination, but some of the new circumstances that have come to light in the last 12 to 14 hours are issues that he needs to address,” she said .
Hegseth, a veteran who became a Fox News star, is under investigation for sexual assault 2017 In Monterey, California. Authorities declined to press charges in the case, saying there was no “evidence to support it beyond a reasonable doubt.” Hegseth told investigators the sexual contact with the woman was consensual and he denied any wrongdoing. He paid the woman a confidential settlement out of concern her accusations could lead to his firing from Fox News, his lawyer said explain after the claims became public in mid-November.
But Sen. Tommy Tuberville pushed back against the idea that Trump might be worried about his choice.
“I talked to him last night,” the Alabama Republican said Tuesday. “I don’t think there’s any concern. Why would there be?”
Asked Monday if he thought the Senate would confirm him to lead the Pentagon, Hegseth said he was taking it “meeting by meeting.”
Trump has already withdrawn one Cabinet pick from the process. Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz pull his name It was considered during a review of sex trafficking and illegal drug charges, which he denied.
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