Saturday, January 25

Trump Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth pitches himself as a ‘change agent’ as he faces grilling in Senate hearing

In the first confirmation hearing for President-elect Donald Trump’s new Cabinet on Tuesday, Pete Hegseth positioned himself as a “change agent” to lead the Defense Department, while Democrats criticized him as unsuited for any military leadership position.

On Capitol Hill, the Senate Armed Services Committee has generally been one of the least partisan. Its members, however, were clearly divided along party lines on Tuesday as Democrats questioned Hegseth about his prior remarks against women in the military as well as claims of sexual misconduct and binge drinking.

Hegseth, a former Fox News personality and Army combat veteran, was hailed by Republicans as a crucial disruptor of the vast military bureaucracy.

The new chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., admitted that Hegseth was an unusual choice. But he compared Mr. Hegseth to Trump and said it might be what makes him a great pick.

Republicans said that “woke” efforts centered on “distractions” like diversity and climate change have hindered the military’s readiness.

Hegseth promised to “rebuild our military,” restore the warrior mentality, and re-establish deterrence if confirmed in his opening remarks.

Politics shouldn’t be involved in military affairs, unlike the current administration. Hegseth declared, “We are American warriors, not Republicans or Democrats.” Our expectations will be high, and they will be equal—which is a very different phrase than equitable.

However, a lengthy list of objections was voiced by Democrats on the committee. Among their worries were claims of sexual assault, financial mismanagement of nonprofit veterans’ organizations he oversaw, his prior hostility toward women in combat, and his inexperience managing a sizable organization.

Hegseth declined to comment on the attacks’ details, dismissing them as part of an organized smear effort in the left-wing media.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the panel’s top Democrat, stated that Hegseth would be the first defense nominee he would vote against after nearly thirty years in the Senate. “The totality of your own writings and alleged conduct would disqualify any service member from holding any leadership position in the military, much less being confirmed as the secretary of defense,” Reed said.

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Reed said, “Unfortunately, you lack the competence, poise, and character to serve as secretary of defense.”

The heated meeting, which was repeatedly disrupted by protesters less than an hour after it started, set the tone for the dozen hearings that are also planned this week as senators scramble to assist Trump in completing his government before his inauguration on Monday.

With the exception of Reed, Hegseth declined to meet with Democrats on the Armed Services Committee, indicating that he is more concerned with gaining support from Republicans than gaining substantial bipartisan support. In the Senate, which is evenly divided, he cannot afford to lose a lot of GOP votes.

Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a sexual assault survivor and military veteran who has previously expressed doubts about Hegseth’s candidacy, will cast a crucial vote on the Armed Services Committee.

She introduced a letter from a Hegseth supporter to start her questioning Tuesday. She then asked him if he would support women serving in combat capacities, and he sounded pleased when he said that he would.

As long as the criteria are maintained, women will be able to participate in ground combat positions, he said.

Throughout the process, Trump has supported Hegseth. Additionally, Republican senators like Ernst have been under pressure from his supporters on Capitol Hill and in outside conservative advocacy groups to back the nomination.

Nonetheless, a 2017 sexual assault accusation has alarmed lawmakers from both parties.

Before forcing himself on her following a political gathering in Monterey, California, Hegseth allegedly stole her phone and prevented her from leaving his hotel room, according to a female employee of a Republican women’s organization. Hegseth agreed to pay an undisclosed amount after she told the police about the incident.

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Three people with firsthand knowledge of the report’s contents claim that the FBI background check on Hegseth, which was given to the chairman and ranking member of the Armed Services Committee late last week, omits interviews with the lady and Hegseth’s ex-wives.

Hegseth has stated that the relationship was consensual, and his attorney stated that he firmly believed he was the victim of innocent collateral damage and blackmail in a falsehood that the Complainant was clinging to in order to preserve her marriage.

That romance took place while Hegseth was still married to his second wife and soon after the birth of a child from a different affair between Hegseth and a coworker, according to Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.

“When you can so casually cheat on your second wife and the mother of a child you had fathered two months prior, I’m shocked you would stand here and say you were completely cleared,” Kaine said. “Is it true that you have sworn allegiance at each of your weddings? As secretary of defense, you would swear an oath to uphold the Constitution.

Hegseth was backed by Senator Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, who accused his fellow senators of hypocrisy.

How many senators have cast nighttime ballots while intoxicated? “You have seen it, so don’t tell me you haven’t,” he continued. “How many senators have you heard of who have divorced because they cheated on their wives? … You guys hold yourselves to such high standards, which is absurd.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who has advocated for victims of sexual assault in the military, questioned Hegseth about how he could be in charge of a group that has a high percentage of Democrats and just 18% of active-duty soldiers are women.

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Gillibrand stated that she was aware that Hegseth had previously made contentious remarks while working at a different employment. However, she pointed out that he stated in a podcast interview as late as November that the United States shouldn’t have women in combat jobs because men are more qualified for those tasks, even though he should have known he could be called upon by the incoming Trump administration.

Gillibrand added, “Please explain these kinds of statements because they are cruel, mean, and disrespectful to men and women who are willing to sacrifice their lives for this country.”

Although Hegseth maintained that he appreciates women who can serve in the uniform, he stated that physical fitness requirements have been decreased to accommodate women, a claim that Gillibrand denied.

Raising her voice, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a former Army helicopter pilot who lost both legs after being shot down in Iraq, forced Hegseth to respond to questions he attempted to dodge.

“You say you don’t want to lower standards [for women] in order to keep our forces strong,” she remarked. We shouldn’t lower our standards for you, then.

Hegseth was questioned by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., about his experience managing two charity organizations for veterans, which, according to The New Yorker, ended when he was fired due to issues with his handling of donor cash and conduct at work.

“I am proud of my management and every dollar spent at the organizations,” Hegseth said.

Sen. Mazie Hirono, a Democrat from Hawaii, cited an NBC News article stating that Hegseth’s alcohol consumption alarmed his Fox News coworkers.

Hegseth reiterated his vow to abstain from alcohol while serving as defense secretary, if verified, but denied having a drinking problem.

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