Pete Hegseth will take center stage on Tuesday as he testifies before the Senate as President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of defense—and the controversial nominee is expected to get grilled.
The Context
Hegseth, 44, is among 13 Trump nominees who will appear before the Senate this week as Trump prepares to take office on January 20. After former Florida Representative Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration to be Trump's attorney general, Hegseth was widely expected to be the Cabinet nominee who faces the harshest confirmation battle.
What To Know
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, is one of Trump's most controversial Cabinet picks. He's previously called to get rid of "woke" military leaders and argued that women should not serve in combat roles. Hegseth has also advocated for pardoning service members accused of war crimes.
The former TV host faced further scrutiny when it surfaced that he was accused of sexual assault eight years ago. He was not charged and a spokesperson for Trump told Vanity Fair that Hegseth has "vigorously denied any and all accusations."
His lawyer also previously told Newsweek, "Although an allegation was made, it was fully investigated and Pete was cleared. This unfortunate episode should have zero impact on the confirmation process."
Hegseth's attorney did not return multiple inquiries seeking comment on Monday, including questions on how he prepared for his confirmation hearing.
The New Yorker also reported in December that Hegseth was intoxicated several times while he was CEO of the Koch-backed group Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) from 2013 to 2016.
The former host was so intoxicated that he needed "to be carried out of the organization's events," the report said. Asked about the allegations, Hegseth told reporters last month, "Not gonna dignify that with a response."
What Is Pete Hegseth's Military Background?
Hegseth is a veteran, though he does not have senior leadership experience. He was an infantry officer in the Army National Guard and previously served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
How to Watch Pete Hegseth's Senate Confirmation Hearing
To watch Hegseth's confirmation hearing, viewers can look to the Senate Armed Services Committee's website and C-SPAN. A plethora of news outlets will also broadcast the likely contentious confirmation battle, including The Washington Post, CNN, Fox News and PBS News.
What to Watch for as Pete Hegseth Testifies
Democrats plan to come out guns blazing and will grill Hegseth on his background, qualifications and allegations of sexual and workplace misconduct.
Democratic Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a list of 72 questions she plans to ask Hegseth.
One probes if he has "ever received any treatment for substance abuse or alcohol." Another asks, "How many times have you been accused of sexually harassing or sexually assaulting another individual?"
Hegseth has denied being drunk on the job and pledged not to consume alcohol if he's confirmed to lead the Pentagon, recently telling reporters, "I'm a different man than I was years ago, and that's a redemption story that I think a lot of Americans appreciate."
The former conservative TV host will also likely face sharp questions about his positions on women and LGBTQ+ people serving in the military. It remains to be seen whether he'll seek to soften some of his previous stances or double down on them.
Democrats also sounded alarms ahead of Hegseth's confirmation hearing because they did not have access to the results of his FBI background check.
But GOP Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chairman of Armed Services, and Democratic Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, vice chairman, were briefed on the background check results. The bureau does not brief other senators on its findings.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut told The New York Times that not having access to the FBI's background check gives the "appearance of a cover-up," adding that "damning is an understatement."
What People Are Saying
Warren told The 19th in a statement: "Pete Hegseth is the least qualified nominee for Secretary of Defense we've ever had. How can we let a guy with a track record of being drunk at work events and harassing his female employees be in charge of the military? We're also going to make him answer to the thousands of highly qualified women in our military who he believes should be barred from combat – that belief alone should disqualify him from the job."
Senator Elissa Slotkin, who previously worked in the Department of Defense, told The 19th: "I'm just trying to understand how he's going to lead. As someone who worked in the Pentagon and as a CIA officer, I care deeply about making sure that the military is always apolitical and that it's never seen as a tool of any one party."
What Happens Next
Hegseth's confirmation hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET Tuesday. Punchbowl News' Andrew Desiderio reported that Armed Services plans to vote on the nomination at 5 p.m. ET January 20.
A dozen other Trump nominees will also have confirmation hearings this week, including:
- Former U.S. Representative Doug Collins, tapped to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Trump's nominee for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
- Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, nominated for attorney general after Gaetz dropped out.
- Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Trump's pick for secretary of state.
- Former U.S. Representative John Ratcliffe, who was nominated for CIA director.
- Former U.S. Representative Sean Duffy, tapped for transportation secretary.
- Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy and Trump's nominee for energy secretary.
- Russell Vought, chosen to head the Office of Management and Budget.
- Former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Trump's onetime rival but now nominee for secretary of the interior.
- Former U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin, whom Trump tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Scott Turner, who got the nod to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- Scott Bessent, Trump's pick for Treasury secretary.
.png)
English (US) ·