Washington (AP)- The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the nation’s defense secretary on Friday in a dramatic vote that the questions about his qualifications returned to lead the Pentagon in the face of forceful drinking and aggressive behavior towards women.
Rarely does a cabinet candidate have such far-reaching concerns about his experience and behavior such as Hegseth, especially for such a top-class role in the US military. However, the Senate, led by Republicans, was determined to confirm Hegseth, a former Fox News moderator and combat veteran, who swore to bring a “war culture” that President Donald Trump rounded off the top national security cabinet officer.
Vice President JD Vance came to break 50-50 draws, that for cabinet candidates and especially defense secretaries, who usually gain broad support for cross-party support. Hegseth himself was in the Capitol with his family.
“We have a great defense minister and we are very happy,” said Trump when he started an Air Force after checking the fire in California.
Trump said that he was not about the contradiction of Senator Mitch McConnell, the influential former Republican leader, who joined two other Republicans, Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska and Senator Susan Collins from Maine, against Hegseth – because the “against Hegseth – – Interested parties who against Hegseth – because the “connected – because” the “against Hegseth voted – because the” because the ” – is crucial to win. “
The ability of the Senate to confirm Hegseth despite a solemn series of allegations against him.
Only once did the Vice President break a candidate candidate with a cabinet candidate – while Trump’s first term when Vice President Mike Pence made the vote to confirm Betsy Devos as education secretary.
Next week, the senators will be in front of Trump’s other outdoor cabinet selection, in particular Kash Patel, a Trump ally who has published a fully list as a FBI director. Tulsi Gabard as director of the Office for National Secret Services; and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the lawyer of anti-accine, at Health and Human Services.
“Is Pete Hegseth really the best we have to offer?” Said Senator Jack Reed from Rhode Island, the Supreme Democrat on the Senate Committee on Temolates, and asked his colleagues to seriously think about their voice. All Democrats rejected the candidates.
The majority leader of the Senate, John Thune, said Hegseth said as the veteran of the National Guard of the Army, the tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, will bring the perspective of a warrior to the top military job.
“The days of aroused distractions will be over,” said Thune, referring to the initiatives to diversity, equity and inclusion that were thrown through the entire federal government. “The focus of the Pentagon will be on war folding.”
Hegseth himself worked on the telephones tardy Friday to support his support.
“He is a good man,” said Trump about Hegseth when he leaves the White House to visit North Carolina and Los Angeles of disasters. “I hope he does it.”
The uncertainty rose the tensions in Capitol tardy Friday. A uncomplicated majority is needed to confirm the candidates, and the Republicans with a majority of 53-47 in the Senate could only lose a further objection after Murkowski and Collins had already announced no.
McConnell had signaled skepticism in earlier speech when he said he would confirm the candidates for high -ranking national security roles.
A Republican, Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina, sent the Senate whirled when he asked modern questions and received information and answers.
But in the end Tillis voted to confirm Hegseth, who “has a unique perspective” and passionately for the modernization of the military. He said he spoke to Hegseth “almost two hours” for his concerns.
In contrast, after the vote said, McConnell said Hegseth “did not expect the reality of the job”, and found that the “mere wish of the candidate to be a” change agent “was not enough.
The Democrats as a minority party have confirmed Foreign Minister Marco Rubio and CIA director John Ratcliffe in non -partisan votes to Trump’s national security team.
But the Democrats were complex against Hegseth, had little power to stop him and instead resorted to the process. Hours before the vote, the Democrats went to the Senate to raise objections.
Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
Hegseth had sexually attacked a woman at a Republican conference in California, even though he denied the claims and said the encounter was mutually acceptable. He later paid the woman $ 50,000.
In recent times, Hegseth’s former sister -in -law said in an affidavit that he was abusive to his second wife until she feared for her safety. Hegseth denied the claim, and in the divorce procedure neither Hegseth nor the woman claimed to become a victim of domestic abuse.
During a fiery hearing of the confirmation, Hegseth released allegations of making misconduct one after the other, and vowed to bring the “war culture” into the top -pentagon post.
Hegseth has promised not to drink at work if confirmed.
The Republican senators, who were exposed to Trump allies with an intensive pressure campaign to support Hegseth, were on his nomination and repeated his claims of a “smear” campaign against him.
Hegseth, a graduate of Princeton and Harvard, represents a newer generation of veterans who became older after the attacks of September 11, 2001. He made a career at Fox News as a moderator of a weekend show and was unknown to many on Capitol Hill until Trump typed him for the top defense job.
Hegseth’s comments that women should not play a role in military struggle took special concern, including legislators who themselves served. Since then he has alleviated these views when he met with senators during the confirmation process.
Murkowski said in a long statement before a test vote on Hegseth said that his behavior “is forceful in contrast to what is expected from the military.
“I am still concerned about the news that Mr. Hegseth’s confirmation will send to women who are currently serving and those who want to join,” wrote Murkowski on social media.
Collins said after a long discussion with Hegseth I am not convinced that his position has changed to women who serve in combat roles. “
But a prominent Republican, Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa, even an experienced and sexual survivor, became Harter Criticism because of her skepticism and finally announced that she would support him.
Hegseth would lead an organization with almost 2.1 million service members, around 780,000 civilians and a budget of 850 billion US dollars.
When exercising his advisory and consent role over Trump’s candidates, the Senate also tries to prevent the GOP leaders from assessing the confirmation process overall and allowing him to appoint his cabinet selection when the congress is on a break.
Trump raised the idea of ​​so-called “break appointments” during a private meeting of the White House with Thun and House speaker Mike Johnson, a step that many senators want to avoid.
___
The author of Associated Press, Weissert wants in Los Angeles and Chris Megerian in Washington, contributed to this report.
