WASHINGTON – Republicans in the U.S. Senate on Thursday advanced the nomination of veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the country’s military, despite numerous allegations of alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct and his history of disparaging women in the armed forces.
Senators in one 51-49 procedural vote Within the party, they agreed to start a debate about Hegseth’s nomination. A final vote is expected overdue Friday.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Democrats and independents in opposition to Hegseth.
Collins said she voted no because she believes Hegseth “does not have the experience and perspective necessary to be successful in this job.”
“I am also concerned about several statements Mr. Hegseth has made about women serving in the military, including some in the months immediately before his nomination,” Collins wrote on X minutes after the vote. She added that she was “not convinced that his position toward women in combat operations has changed.”
Murkowski said she could not “in good conscience” vote for Hegseth for many reasons, including his history of alleged mismanagement and misconduct at two veterans organizations.
“While the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking do not do anything to allay my concerns, the behaviors Mr. Hegseth has admitted to in the past, including multiple infidelities, demonstrate a lack of judgment befitting someone who would lead our armed forces , is improper. “, she wrote on X on Thursday.
Reed sees background checks as “inadequate.”
New allegations only came on Tuesday appeared from Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, that his second wife feared Hegseth’s erratic behavior and that the Army National Guard veteran was so drunk in uniform at a Minneapolis strip club that his brother had to carry him out.
The allegations were revealed by the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jack Reed. Reed said he asked Hegseth’s former sister-in-law to tell him her testimony again after her interview in December was not included in Hegseth’s FBI background check provided to committee members.
Hegseth’s lawyer and his second wife Samantha deny the allegations.
Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island, said on the Senate floor Thursday that the FBI’s background checks were “inadequate.”
Accusations were noisy
Since President Donald Trump announced his election in mid-November, allegations Hegseth faced back-to-back allegations, including misconduct and mismanagement at two veterans service organizations he led after his military service and combat deployments during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2017, the then-host of Fox News accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Monterey, California. Hegseth later settled down with her.
Hegseth, 44, told Senators at his confirmation hearing on Jan. 14: “I am not a perfect human being, as has been saved by the grace of God acknowledged by Jesus and Jenny,” he said, referring to his third wife, television producer Jennifer Hegseth. who sat behind him during his hearing.
Democrats criticized Hegseth on several fronts at the hearing, but particularly for his well-documented and youngesthas commented for several years that women should not take on combat roles.
The veteran and television personality argued His latest book, “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” says, “Fathers urge us to take risks. Mothers put the training wheels on our bikes. We need mothers. But not in the military, especially not in combat units.”
Hegseth, who earned He earned millions as a Fox News host before quitting in November and has also written several books, including: compare from the Crusades between Christians and Muslims in the 11th century to today’s “Battle for the Soul of America.”
Last updated 3:57 p.m., January 23, 2025
