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Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing got heated when Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) challenged him on press reports that he drank while working at his previous job, allegations that Hegseth refused.
“As secretary you will be in charge of maintaining good order and discipline by enforcing the Uniform Code of Military Justice. … I’ve read multiple reports that you’re regularly drunk on the job, even by people who worked with you at Fox News,” Hirono said.
“Do you know that being drunk at work is forbidden?” Hirono asked bluntly.
Hegseth vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing them as a media smear.
“These are multiple false anonymous reports placed by NBC News that are directly contradicted by dozens of men and women and the Fox News Channel…” he responded.
But Hirono cut him off.
“I’m not hearing an answer to my question,” he said.
Then she insisted on her promise to Republican senators that she would not drink if confirmed as Pentagon leader.
“Absolutely,” Hegseth said.
Hirono then asked if the nominee would resign as defense secretary if he resumed drinking while leading the Pentagon, arguing that it’s a “24/7” job.
Hegseth said he made the commitment on behalf of the service members who would be under his leadership.
But he did not specifically pledge to resign as defense secretary if alcohol touches his lips while leading the nation’s armed forces.
