WASHINGTON (AP) — In a tense confirmation hearing in the Senate, which drew protesters but also veterans in support, the nominee by the president-elect Donald Trump for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, promised on Tuesday to foster a “warrior culture” at the Pentagon and presented himself as an “agent of change.”
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Hegseth is considered one of Trump’s most controversial nominations, due to accusations of sexual assault, excessive alcohol consumption, and his derogatory opinions on women in combat.
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Directly asked about the accusation of sexual assault by the senators, Hegseth dismissed it as a “smear campaign” and an unfair attack. However, he did not specifically address any of these issues, nor did he tell the senators that he did not drink or was not a womanizer.
How was Hegseth’s confirmation hearing?
In the audience, there were groups of men wearing clothing expressing support for veterans or service in the military, but also protesters who momentarily interrupted the proceedings but were removed from the room.
“It’s time to hand the helm to someone with dust on their boots. A change agent,” Hegseth said in his opening remarks.
The senators immediately began to delve into the questions about Hegseth.
The Democrat Jack Reed stated emphatically: “I don’t believe I am qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job.”
But Republican Roger Wicker compared Hegseth to Trump himself, dismissed the various accusations against him as unfounded, and said he will bring “energy and fresh ideas to shake up the bureaucracy.”
Under pressure regarding his opposition to diversity initiatives in the military and the inclusion of women in combat roles, Hegseth acknowledged that the military “was a brave pioneer in racial integration.” However, he argued that modern diversity and inclusion policies “divide” current troops and do not prioritize “meritocracy.”
And he had to answer for his comments that women should not have combat roles, although he has moderated his stance in recent times.
In a sharp exchange, Democratic Senator Kristen Gillibrand told Hegseth: “You will have to change how you view women to do this job.”
Many senators have not yet met with Hegseth and the majority do not have access to his FBI background check, as only the committee leaders were informed about its findings. Senator Reed stated that the background check on Trump’s nominee was “insufficient.”
What are the accusations against Hegseth?
Hegseth, 44, comes from a new generation of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and his military experience is widely seen as a positive thing.
But he also brings a history of past actions and statements, including about women, minorities, and “woke” generals. He has promised not to drink alcohol if confirmed to lead the Pentagon.
Co-host of the program “Fox & Friends Weekend” on FOX, he has been a contributor to that channel since 2014 and apparently caught the attention of the president-elect, who is an avid television and news consumer.
In 2017, a woman told the police that Hegseth had sexually assaulted her, according to a recently released investigative report. The Trump candidate has denied any wrongdoing and told the police at that time that the encounter at a Republican women’s event in California was consensual. He later paid the woman a confidential settlement to avoid a possible lawsuit.
When could Hegseth be confirmed?
The hearing in the Senate Armed Services Committee is the beginning of a week-long marathon as senators start scrutinizing Trump’s nominees for over a dozen top administrative positions.
The Republican-led Senate is rushing to confirm Trump’s nominees for Inauguration Day on January 20. With a narrow majority, Republicans need almost all of their votes if the Democrats oppose.
According to various analysts, Hegseth emerged unscathed from this hearing and no cracks were seen among Republican senators.
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