Senate Republicans had mixed responses to President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement Thursday that he would run. Pete HegsethA Fox News personality accused of sexual harassment will lead the Defense Department after the release of a police report into allegations of sexual harassment against him.
Some senators defended Trump’s choice, while others voiced some fears, with one senator telling NBC News about the police report released Wednesday into the 2017 sexual assault allegation against Hexeth.
Asked whether the sexual-assault report gave him any pause about the possibility of Hegseth serving in Trump’s Cabinet, the Armed Services Committee member, RN.D. Senator Kevin Cramer responded: “It’s a pretty big problem. You know that we have a problem of sexual harassment in our army.”
Kramer would not comment on whether the lawsuit would affect his vote, citing a lengthy process ahead.
“You know, that’s why you have background checks. That’s why you have hearings. That’s why you have to pass a background check. I’m not going to prejudge it, but yeah, it’s a pretty interesting charge,” Kramer said.
Trump last week named HegsethAs his choice to lead the Pentagon, his longtime ally, describes it as “tough, smart, and a true believer in America.”
The unidentified woman told police in 2017 that Hegseth took her phone and prevented him from leaving in a hotel room before sexually assaulting her after the Republican women’s convention in California, according to a police report released Wednesday night.
Hexeth has not been charged and has denied wrongdoing.
Caroline Leavitt, Trump’s transition spokeswoman and chooses to be White House press secretarysaid in a statement that the report “confirms what Mr. Hegseth’s lawyers have always said: that the incident was fully investigated and that no charges were brought because the police found the allegations to be false.”
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., also defended Trump’s choice, saying he had reviewed the report and would seek Hexeth’s confirmation.
Asked by NBC News about Hegseth’s requirements to lead the Pentagon, Mullin called him a “solid individual” and “the right person for the job.”
“It’s not like he doesn’t have experience in the military. I think he’s perfect for the job,” Mullin said. “I think he is very talented. There is a reason why President Trump trusts him.”
Mullin also denied the allegations of sexual abuse detailed in the 2017 report, calling them “an unfortunate situation that happened,” adding that Hegseth was “accused of doing something I don’t believe he did.”
Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., also called Hegsett “a great choice by @realDonaldTrump to transform Washington.” hen XHe noted plans to support Hegseth’s confirmation.
Senator Lindsey Graham, RS.C., tried to make a connection between his response to the allegations against Hegseth and how he would respond to one. rape allegation against President Joe Biden in 1993, which emerged during the 2020 presidential campaign.
“When Biden was accused of rape, I said, ‘That’s not the Biden I know,'” he said, adding that lawmakers “will not try” Hegsett based on “press statements.”
When NBC News told him that the allegations against Hexeth were contained in a police report and not detailed in a media release, Graham said, “I don’t care.”
Two other choices to serve in top positions in Trump’s Cabinet also faced off potentially harmful claims from sexual abuse.
Vanity Fair reported on this in July Allegedly by a woman who was hired as a babysitter in the late 1990s Robert F. Kennedy Jr., chose to oversee Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services and said he hounded Kennedy and his wife while working for him.
Kennedy responded to the claim over the summer saying: “I said in my announcement speech that I have so many skeletons in my closet that if they could all vote, I could run for king of the world.”
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida withdrew his name was presented to the Prosecutor General’s Office on Thursday amid allegations that he had sex with a minor and paid money two other women For sex in 2017. He has long denied the allegations.
After Gaetz withdrew his name, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., told NBC News there were “similar, difficult allegations” with Hegseth.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how these are answered,” Coons said.
“Let’s have a committee process here,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., urging the Senate vetting process to move forward despite the allegations troubling Trump’s nominees.
“Now, obviously, Gaetz ultimately decided he didn’t want to go through that process,” Hawley said. “But you know, if someone wants to be your candidate, I would say let them. “Let him testify and let’s not make judgments or come to a conclusion until they have had a chance to testify and address those concerns.”