Pete Hegseth’s potential appointment as Secretary of Defense is in doubt. Senators are reviewing a series of public accusations made against him. A person familiar with the matter told the Associated Press that President-elect Donald Trump’s team is concerned about Hegseth’s confirmation in the Senate and is considering other candidates.
Three sources said that Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who ran against Trump in the GOP primary, is being considered as a potential candidate for Secretary of Defense if Hegseth’s nomination does not proceed. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity. Trump’s team declined to comment.
Pete Hegseth held private meetings with Republican senators in Congress for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, amid growing concerns over his ability to lead the Pentagon.
Hegseth told reporters that he planned to meet with every senator, including those who are skeptical about his nomination.
“We will meet with any senator who wants to meet with us. We welcome their advice in this consultation process,” Hegseth said.
A former Fox News journalist and a decorated war veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hegseth was nominated by Trump as Secretary of Defense and is expected to be one of the first nominees of the new administration to be reviewed for confirmation by the Senate.
However, Hegseth faces scrutiny over an accusation of sexual assault, which he has denied, as well as other reports regarding his workplace behavior. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham called some of these reports “concerning.”
“I want to make sure that every woman who becomes part of the military feels respected and welcomed,” Senator Graham said to CBS News.
Republican Senator Josh Hawley said he had seen the press reports and would speak with Hegseth. “I’m sure he will talk about these reports,” Hawley expressed.
Before becoming the host of Fox News’ weekend show Fox & Friends, Hegseth was part of two non-profit groups advocating for war veterans, “Concerned Veterans for America” and “Veterans for Freedom.”
This week, The New Yorker cited a report and other documents related to Hegseth’s time leading the “Concerned Veterans for America” group, raising questions about incidents involving him during work meetings while under the influence of alcohol, inappropriate behavior towards female employees, and financial mismanagement.
NBC News reported that several former and current Fox employees who worked with Hegseth expressed concerns about his alcohol consumption. Some of them said Hegseth had shown up to work smelling of alcohol.
The Associated Press spoke with four individuals who had worked with or had knowledge of Hegseth’s time at “Concerned Veterans for America,” who declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak with the media or had signed confidentiality agreements.
While the group’s conferences could last until late and often ended at a nearby bar, three of the four sources said they had never seen Hegseth under the influence of alcohol.
One individual, who had ties to the “Concerned Veterans for America” group, told the Associated Press that although some employees raised concerns about Hegseth’s alcohol use, they said his departure from the group was more related to ideological differences between him and the conservative non-profit network.
Confirmation of nominees by the President-elect requires a majority vote in the Senate. Republicans hold a 53-seat majority, meaning that four Republican votes against the nominee could block the confirmation if all Democrats oppose it.
Republican senators are weighing their options.
If confirmed, Hegseth would not only be in charge of the nation’s nuclear weapons command and control but would also be sixth in line to replace the president if he were unable to fulfill his duties.
During a closed-door meeting with about 12 senators on Monday night, none of them questioned Hegseth about the accusations against him.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz said that the American people are concerned with strengthening the military and called the criticisms against Hegseth “shameful.”
Questions about Hegseth and other nominees highlight “why controlling the purity of character is important, why an investigative committee is critical,” said Republican Senator Susan Collins.
Another Republican senator, Tommy Tuberville, said after his meeting with Hegseth that he supported his nomination. However, regarding the accusations, he said, “They may reach a point where people don’t vote to confirm him.”
According to a recent detailed investigative report, a woman filed a police report claiming that in 2017, Hegseth sexually assaulted her after taking her phone, blocking the door in a hotel room in California, and refusing to let her leave.
Hegseth claimed at the time to police that the intimate encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. / VOA
