The United States Senate narrowly advanced the nomination of Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and military veteran, to be President Donald Trump’s secretary of defense in a narrow vote Thursday, clearing the way for a confirmation vote later this week.
The vote was 51-49 in the 100-member Senate on a procedural measure to end debate, as all but two of Trump’s Republican colleagues voted to advance the nomination, despite new allegations about his personal conduct.
Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins joined all Democratic and independent senators in voting against the nomination.
The Senate is currently expected to vote on Hegseth’s confirmation late Friday.
One of the most controversial nominees among Trump’s Cabinet picks, Hegseth was confirmed despite Democratic concerns about his lack of managerial experience and multiple allegations — which he denied — of inappropriate personal behavior and excessive drinking.
In a statement to the Senate, made public this week, Hegseth’s former sister-in-law said Hegseth abused his second ex-wife to the point where she once escaped into a closet and gave friends an emergency code.
Several incidents involving Hegseth have raised concerns among Democrats, including a 2017 sexual assault allegation that did not result in charges, which Hegseth denies.
Hegseth paid the woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017 $50,000 as part of a settlement, according to Hegseth’s response to a written question from Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, her office said.
Hegseth’s attorney also did not respond to an email request.
Pete Hegseth denies abusing Samantha Hegseth, and Republican senators who supported him said they met with him, reviewed his FBI file and other materials, and were satisfied he was the right man to run the Pentagon.
“After this thorough review, I am firmly confident in my assessment that the nominee, Mr. Hegseth, is fit to be the next Secretary of Defense, and that the allegations that unfairly impugn his character do not stand up to scrutiny,” said Roger Wicker, chairman of the Services Committee. of the armed forces of the Senate.
Hegseth refused to meet with most of the Democratic senators, including members of the Armed Services Committee, who held his confirmation hearing.
In recent weeks, Trump has urged his fellow Republicans to back the 44-year-old veteran, and most have defended the nominee, who they described as someone who would restore a “warrior” mentality in the US military. In posts on Truth Social, Trump said Hegseth “will be a GREAT Secretary of Defense” and said he has Trump’s “complete and absolute support.”
Democrats strongly objected. Earlier Thursday, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Of all the people we could have as secretary of defense, is Pete Hegseth really the best we’ve got? Come on, you know he’s not. You know he’s not even close!”
Hegseth would lead the 1.3 million active-duty military personnel and nearly 1 million civilians who work for the U.S. military, which has an annual budget of nearly $1 trillion.
If he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon, officials will be closely watching whether he changes the leadership of the military’s uniformed services, how he handles personnel issues like women in combat roles and where he stands on major foreign policy issues like the war in Ukraine, competition with an increasingly confident China and tensions in the Middle East.
Hegseth has been critical of diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives in the military, and in his latest book, he questioned whether America’s top general got the job just because he is black.
For years, Hegseth has been staunchly opposed to women in combat roles, but has backed away from that stance to gain support for his confirmation, including from Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran and sexual abuse survivor, who originally said she had questions about Hegseth but then became a strong supporter of his nomination.
(Vijesti.ba)
