Pete Hegseth Weathers Brutal Questions On Drinking, Assault Claims In Senate Hearing
HuffPost
Democrats grilled Trump’s defense secretary pick over ugly allegations against him. But barring a last-minute surprise, he appears on track to be confirmed.
WASHINGTON — Defense secretary hopeful Pete Hegseth faced intense scrutiny from Democrats in a Tuesday confirmation hearing, fielding questions about allegations of sexual assault, infidelity, showing up to work drunk and disparaging women’s participation in the military.
The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.), even told Hegseth at the start of the hearing that he lacked “the character and composure and competence to hold the position of secretary of defense,” a scathing rebuke from one of the most mild-mannered lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
But Hegseth, who previously worked as a weekend host for Fox News, emerged from his four-hour grilling with nothing but praise from Republicans, and barring any last-minute surprises, he appears to be headed to a smooth confirmation as early as next week.
“I’m encouraged,” Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told HuffPost of Hegseth’s performance. “I think he helped himself immensely today.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) also brushed off concerns about the sexual assault allegations against him, saying he had “acquitted himself extremely well and made a strong argument for why he ought to be the secretary of defense.”
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