Republican senators met Monday with President-elect Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary pick, Pete Hegseth, tossing aside sexual harassment and other allegations against him.
Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., called the allegations a “side issue” while praising Hegseth’s ability to lead the Defense Department.
“Yet again, they throw disparaging remarks against someone who has gained a lot of trust. Are soldiers sometimes wild children? “Yes, that could happen,” Lummis said when asked if the allegations were related to him, “but it’s very clear that this is a man who has lost faith in our power at a time when Americans have lost faith in their own military.” worldwide project force, Pete Hegseth is the answer to this concern.
About 10 to 12 senators on the Republican Steering Committee, a group of conservative senators led by Mike Lee of Utah, met with Hegseth behind closed doors for less than an hour Monday at the Capitol.
Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran and former Fox News host, has faced several allegations of misconduct since being tapped by Trump to lead the Defense Department (he has denied any wrongdoing). Most recently, A The New Yorker An article published Sunday revealed the contents of a previously undisclosed 2015 whistleblower report from the veterans organization where Hegseth worked, alleging that he was repeatedly drunk on the job.
NBC News has not independently confirmed the report. Hegseth’s attorney declined to comment. In a statement to The New Yorker, an adviser said the allegations were “outrageous” and came from a “petty and jealous disgruntled ex-partner.”
Trump’s transition team cited an earlier statement in support of Hexett to NBC News. Hegseth did not respond to NBC News’ barrage of questions about the New Yorker article and other allegations.
Senators downplayed the charges after the meeting, offering their full support to Hexeth.
“I’ve known Pete for a while, so my experience with him has always been positive. I think he has a clear commitment to making sure that we have a lethal military that scares our enemies, that is respected by our allies and someone that our allies can trust,” said Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.
Lee did not say whether the senators discussed any of the allegations with Hext, but said they discussed his views on the Pentagon.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said the media was “hung over” by the personal accusations against Hegseth and told reporters that every Cabinet nominee would undergo a background check, but potentially not from the FBI — a new point of contention among lawmakers, as some Republicans say The FBI should not be responsible for conducting background checks, breaking with common practice.
A woman told police that Hegseth sexually assaulted her after the 2017 Republican Women’s Convention in California. police investigation records released last month. Hegseth denied the allegations and has not been charged. He admitted paid an undisclosed amount to his accuser as part of the settlement.
last week, The New York Times reported on this During their contentious divorce in 2018, Hegseth’s mother said he sent her an email she called “female abuse”. He later told the Times that he regretted the email, which NBC News did not obtain.
Hegseth’s attorney declined to comment, but a statement from Trump’s transition team said: “It is embarrassing, but not surprising, that the NYT published a story about an out-of-context excerpt from an illegally obtained private conversation between a mother and a mother. his son. The whole purpose of this exercise is to smear Mr. Hegseth.”
Speaking to reporters Monday after meeting with Hegseth, Cruz called the New York Times story “disgraceful.”
The senators also cited Hegseth’s ability to boost retention and recruitment among young men and women, despite previously suggesting that women not serve. When asked about those comments, Lummis said they did not concern him.
“I think when it’s female fighter pilots, you know, the best of the best, he might think twice about it,” she said.
In a podcast interview last month, Hegseth said women should not be allowed to fight on the front lines because their presence has “complicated” combat.
“I’m right that women shouldn’t be in fighting roles,” Hegseth said on “The Shawn Ryan Show” podcast last month. His statements caused a sharp response from female veterans and service members.
Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Republican senators’ statements.