Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Senate Republicans are moving forward with the nomination of Pete Hegseth to lead the Pentagon and a new one report detailing allegations of abusive behavior by the candidate apparently they have not been dissuaded.
The Senate is scheduled to hold an initial procedural vote on the nomination Thursday, although Democrats are trying to delay final approval.
Shortly after the claims, which were included in an affidavit by Hegseth’s ex-sister-in-law, were reported, Democrats also slammed President Trump’s other nominees, including John Ratcliffe, his pick to head the CIA .
But Republicans appear to have the votes to confirm Hegseth and the others.
“I think it’s a stretch. I think it looks desperate. I think it probably helps Pete a little bit if the best they can do is not even ex-wife’s sister, but a brother’s ex-wife,” he said Senator Kevin Cramer (RND), member. of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which advanced Hegseth to an all-party vote on Monday.
“Thirds, listen, the whole time is not validated by the actual ex-wife. It looks like everything else up to this point: like a smear campaign,” Cramer continued, adding that he was “a little surprised” how the Sen. Jack Reed (RI), the top Democrat on the panel, handled the affidavit.
The affidavit by Danielle Hegseth, who was previously married to Pete Hegseth’s brother, came as the clock continues to tick down on Hegseth’s nomination, which has been a rollercoaster ride since being tapped for the job more of two months After appearing in deep trouble in early December, Hegseth righted the ship and appears to be on a slippery slope to confirmation, even with the new allegations.
Danielle Hegseth claims the Pentagon nominee was abusive to his second wife, Samantha Hegseth, to the point where he sometimes hid in a closet and developed a plan in case he “had to walk away” from he
Samantha Hegseth denied the claims in an email to NBC News, saying “I don’t think your information is accurate.”
Pete Hegseth looks to have at least the 50 votes he needs to reach the finish line. Two potential swing votes at the GOP conference: Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and John Curtis (R-Utah), both of whom announced last week that they will vote for him, eliminating the potential crowd of “no “.
Young told The Hill on Wednesday that he planned to read the unredacted affidavit, but declined further comment on the situation until he does.
Meanwhile, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), meanwhile, have remained undecided on whether they will support Hegseth on the floor, with the news making its way to support Hegseth harder.
Collins told reporters he was trying to learn more about the situation, adding that it was “concerning” that the affidavit’s claims were not included in Hegseth’s FBI background check.
Murkowski said she is “concerned” about Hegseth’s nomination and indicated that Danielle Hegseth’s claims will play a role in her decision.
“I take into account everything I’ve received, either in person or in subsequent conversations,” Murkowski said. “I factor all of that into my calculation when I make these decisions.”
McConnell he told CNN he didn’t “I have no announcement to make” when asked about Hegseth.
Although all three oppose the nomination, Hegseth can still be confirmed.
Top Senate Republicans have made clear since November that their plan is to move as quickly as possible to put Trump’s cabinet in place, starting with his national security team.
The chamber approved Marco Rubio to lead the State Department hours after Trump’s inauguration, and Republicans had hoped to pass Ratcliffe a day later. Those plans collapsed in part because of Hegseth’s affidavit, and Democrats opposed a temporary deal.
This prompted warnings from Senate Republicans, including a visibly frustrated Senate Majority Leader John Thune (RSD), who told his colleagues not to make any weekend plans as votes on Hegseth and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R). Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security is slated.
“Do we want to vote these people out on Tuesday or do we want to vote them out on Friday, Saturday and Sunday? Because that’s what we’re going to do. That can be easy or hard,” Thune said. “Everything we’re doing right now is stalling, and I don’t know what it accomplishes for you.”
A vote to confirm Ratcliffe is scheduled for Thursday. The first account of Hegseth is expected immediately afterwards.
Meanwhile, Republicans are coming to Hegseth’s defense.
“A complete fabrication,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), a member of the Armed Services Committee, said after reading the unredacted affidavit, calling the allegations “shocking.”
“Everyone in her family says she was very demanding of Pete,” he continued. “At the end of the day, it’s a Hail Mary at the end, and they’re not going to stop that.”
During the Hegseth battle, Republicans have denounced anonymous reports that have surfaced, including a 2017 sexual assault allegation unknown to President Trump’s transition team when he was appointed. Hegseth has denied wrongdoing.
But, as Democrats are quick to point out, the latest allegations come directly from his ex-sister-in-law and were made under penalty of perjury.
“I don’t understand how any Republican in the Senate can keep Hegseth’s nomination,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Armed Services. “Republicans have to face that they have a candidate who could never get a promotion in the military, and yet they’re looking to put him in charge of the whole operation.”
However, GOP members dismissed the claims and echoed a statement from Hegseth’s attorney that portrayed Danielle Hegseth as an ex-family member with an “axe to grind.”
“She’s such a loose source. She’s such a disconnected source,” Cramer said of Danielle Hegseth. “It doesn’t have a lot of credibility.”
