Democrats slammed Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth during his confirmation hearing Tuesday and criticized the Fox News host for his sexist views on women in combat, claims of sexual impropriety, allegations of workplace drinking, and bad management skills That led to his exit. two veterans charities.
Their tough questions came as Republicans. Handle Hegseth with kid gloves.Protects him from accountability by limiting questions from senators and allowing a very incomplete FBI report to suffice for his confirmation.
Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine I asked the hardest question Hegseth at a hearing Tuesday.
Kaine questioned Hegseth about his misconduct. sexual assault chargesColleagues claim Hegseth I drank while working.And the fact that Hegseth hold Information about these accusations From Donald Trump’s team During the interview process for the role.
When Kaine asked Hegseth if showing up to work drunk would be disqualifying, Hegseth did not answer and instead falsely claimed the report came from an anonymous source. In fact, one of the people who accused Hegseth of workplace improprieties was Jessie Jane Duff, a Marine Corps veteran and former Trump campaign official. He tried in 2016 to remove Hegseth from his position as head of CBS News, a Concerned Veterans of America group. reported.
When Hegseth tells Kaine that he is an “open book,” Kaine laughed atHegseth’s accusers pointed out that they were subject to “multiple non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements” that “tied the hands of many people who wanted to give us their opinions.”
Kane too grew up Hegseth ignored the oaths he had made in the past, including that he would be faithful to his wife. Hegseth had three of them.
“You had a child two months ago by a woman who is not your wife. I am shocked that you stand here and say you are completely clean. How could you so casually cheat on your second wife, and then your second wife? Two months ago “I heard that the child was born completely cleansed.” kane said.
Kaine refused to accept Hegseth. excuse Stating that the claims against him should not be believed because they were made anonymously, he said those who have made claims against Hegsett include: own mother.
“You claimed all of this was anonymous. We have seen records of names attached to all of these, including your mother’s name. So don’t make this an anonymous media report,” Kaine said, basically accusing Hegseth of lying.
Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, based on these questions, said Hegseth’s excuses for drinking and sexual assault were unwarranted.
“Which are you? Have you overcome personal issues or are you the target of a smear campaign? You can’t be both. It’s clear that you are not being honest with us or the American people because you know the truth. You can’t get a job. “There will be no more.” Kelly said. “And as troubling as each of these specific allegations of disqualification is, the idea that we have a Secretary of Defense who is not transparent is also troubling.”
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth (Illinois), a veteran who lost both legs in the Iraq War, asked Hegseth basic information about the military, but Hegseth could not answer.
Duckworth asked him to name one member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the relationship the United States has with them. Hexeth could not answer.
“I suggest you do some homework,” Duckworth later told Hegseth. adding “You are not qualified, Mr. Hegseth.”
Democratic Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan brought up the fact that Hegseth has no experience managing a large organization like the Department of Defense and that confirming him would be akin to lowering Hegseth’s standards for the Department of Defense. be criticized.
“You talk about standards. You say there’s a standards problem in the Department of Defense and that we need to raise the standards for the men and women who serve. Do you think that’s the way to raise the minimum standards for people in the Department of Defense?” “Serving us means lowering the bar for a Secretary of Defense, and we have someone who has never managed an organization of more than 100 people?” Peters said.
Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Elizabeth Warren grew up of hexes Past misogynistic remarks. In particular, he said in a podcast on November 7, “I am being honest when I say that women should not participate in combat.” But since Trump nominated him, he has is You are qualified to fight.
“What specific events occurred during a 32-day period that caused you to change the core values you have expressed for the past 12 years?” boy name said.
But none of Hegseth’s past comments or actions seemed to concern Republicans on the panel, who asked softball questions and even defended Hegseth’s nefarious actions.
Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said that since some senators drink before voting or cheat on their wives, it’s OK for Hegseth to do the same.
“Senator Kaine (or perhaps a better term would be ‘Virginia Senator’) begins to mention the fact, ‘What happens if you show up to work drunk?’ Senator Kaine shows up drunk at night to vote. How many of these people have asked them to resign? Mullen asked, “So how many senators do you know who divorced their wives? “No,” he said.
The problem with Mullin’s logic is obvious. Just because some senators behaved that way doesn’t make Hegseth’s alleged actions meaningless. Moreover, those members of Congress were not nominated as candidates for Secretary of Defense.
Ultimately, Democrats exposed how unqualified Hegseth is to lead the Pentagon.
But Republicans plan to approve Hegseth anyway, demanding that they bow to Trump’s demands and accept his completely unprepared and corrupt nominees.
Command this clown to the Pentagon.
