The Senate hearing of Donald Trump’s defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth turned hostile as the senators cornered him with asking him questions about his controversial past, his drunken behavior, sexual assault allegations etc. Republican senators condemned the continuous grilling of Hegseth as Hegseth continued to field all the questions thrown at him including one on his past comment that he was not in favour of women in combat roles. During the hearing, Hegseth said women will have access to ground combat roles given combat standards remain high.
JD Vance stands by Hegseth, condemns grilling
Vice President-elect JD Vance called the grilling of Hegseth by Democrat senators “grandstanding” and said this is perplexing. “I find this grandstanding from Senate Democrats over the Hegseth confirmation perplexing. We haven’t won a war in three decades and we have a major recruitment challenge. Hegseth is assuredly NOT more of the same, and that’s good!” Vance said.
Pete Hegseth Senate confirmation: Here’s what happened
As the hearing began and Pete Hegseth started introducing himself, some hecklers started shouting “misogynist”, “Christian Zionist” etc.
The grilling began with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand reading some of Pete Hegseth’s own words back to him, accusing him of “denigrating” female, LGBTQ and liberal soldiers.
Gillibrand (D-NY) said that the remarks amounted to Hegseth claiming Americans “can’t serve if you’re a mom,” “can’t serve if you’re LGBTQ,” and “can’t serve if you’re a leftist.” “Senator, as the president has stated, I don’t disagree with the overturn of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,'” Hegseth said of the Pentagon policy on gay service members implemented under President Bill Clinton.
Sen Jack Reed said the allegations of Hegseth’s sexual misconduct were extremely alarming. As many other senators turn up the heat on Hegseth over this issue, Hegseth said the allegations in 2017 were false and they remain false claims even now and he was cleared after the matter was fully investigated.
Sen Mark Kelly says Hegseth not transparent about drinking, sex assault claims.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), who served decades in the US Navy before retiring at the rank of captain, fired off a series of allegations about Hegseth’s purported binge drinking and sexual impropriety, asking whether each accusation was “true or false.”
“Anonymous smears,” Hegseth said to each, pausing when asked whether he took employees of one of the vet groups he helmed to a Louisiana strip club in 2014.
“Absolutely not, anonymous smears,” the Pentagon pick finally said again.
“You admittedly had issues with heavy drinking. It’s hard to kind of square this,” Kelly shot back later asking: “Have you overcome personal issues or are you the target of a smear campaign? It can’t be both.”
“It’s clear to me that you’re not being honest with us or the American people because you know the truth would disqualify you from getting the job.”
