Senate confirms Pete Hegseth as Trump’s defense secretary in 51-50 vote
washington – The Senate narrowly confirmed Pete Hegseth as the next defense secretary, giving President Trump the nod to lead the Pentagon after a battle over the nomination.
Hegseth was confirmed on a mostly party-line vote, 51 in favor and 50 against. Three Republicans opposed the nomination along party lines, forcing Vice President Jed Vance to vote. At least four Republicans had to vote against Hegers to downgrade his nomination.
Hegseth’s nomination came on shaky ground, including sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement. But the former Fox News host offered his support for his confirmation in a defiant tone that seemed to cast doubt on Mr. Trump’s standing behind his choice.
Senate Republicans have largely dismissed the accusations, including sworn in Produced by Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, it was revealed this week. In an affidavit to members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, she claimed Hegseth made his second wife fear for her safety and abused alcohol for years.
But they lost two votes in the confirmation process: Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Murkovsky explain On Thursday, she was unable to support Hegseth’s nomination, citing his numerous accusations and previous positions against women in combat.
She said: “These actions are in stark contrast to the values ​​and discipline expected of members of the service. The men and women in uniform are responsible for such actions and they deserve leaders who uphold those standards. “There is no evidence to me that he is qualified to lead the defence. Be prepared for the great responsibility of the ministry.
Shortly after, Collins made a similar announcement. Collins said she was concerned Hegseth lacked “the experience and perspective necessary to succeed in his job” and that she “did not believe his status as a woman in a combat role had changed”.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., voted to advance the nomination a day earlier but also fought against them on Friday. McConnell walked into the Senate chamber late Friday with a motion bearing his name.
“Mr. Hegseth has not shown that he will pass this test. But, as he has been in office, the consequences of failure are as high as ever,” McConnell said in a lengthy and frothy statement after his vote. .
Mr Trump who is in california Probing wildfire damage, he said he didn’t know how McConnell voted but praised Hegseth, saying he “will make a great secretary of defense.”
Before Vance defeated Victory, he Write,,,, “I thought I voted in the Senate.”
during his Contentious confirmation hearings Last week, Democrats roasted Jesus October 2017 Sexual Assault Allegationhe repeatedly denied.
In one of the most heated moments of the hour-long hearing, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia asked Hegseth about his history of infidelity in three marriages.
“How could you lie to your second wife so casually?” Kaine said, asking Hegseth about the timing of the allegation of sexual assault that Hegseth claimed was a consensual assault.
“You admitted you had sex in that hotel,” Kane said. “You said it was consensual, isn’t that correct? You admitted it was consensual, you were still married, you had just given birth to another woman’s Child. How do you explain your judgment?”
Hegseth, who avoided answering the question directly, also declined to answer Kaine’s question about whether the encounter qualified as sexual assault.
Earlier in the hearing, Hegseth said the charges against him were aimed at destroying him.
“I’m not a perfect person,” Hegseth said. public He has paid a $50,000 settlement to the plaintiff.
He also addressed his views on women in combat, saying his previous view that women should not be in combat roles was a concern about “standards.”
Hegseth, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, joined Fox News as a contributor in 2014 and eventually became a co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend.” He left his job online after Trump said he intended to nominate him to lead the Defense Department.
contributed to this report.
