Senate Republicans had mixed reactions to President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth, a Fox News personality accused of sexual assault, to lead the Defense Department following the release of a police report alleging sexual assault in 2017. Some senators defended the pick while others expressed concern, with Senator Kevin Cramer noting the seriousness of sexual assault in the military. Trump described Hegseth as a strong believer in America First despite the allegations. Hegseth denied any wrongdoing, with a transition spokeswoman stating that the police found the allegations false.
Senator Markwayne Mullin defended Trump’s choice and supported Hegseth’s confirmation, calling him a solid individual with military experience. Other senators, like Bill Hagerty and Lindsey Graham, also expressed support for Hegseth.
Hegseth is not the only one facing allegations in Trump’s Cabinet picks, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Matt Gaetz also being accused of sexual misconduct. Kennedy responded humorously to the allegations, while Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for attorney general after allegations of sex with a minor surfaced.
Senator Chris Coons mentioned similar challenging allegations against Hegseth and looked forward to seeing how they would be addressed. Senator Josh Hawley urged for the Senate’s vetting process to continue in order to give nominees a chance to address concerns. Overall, while there are concerns about the allegations, many Republican senators are still supporting Hegseth and other controversial picks for Trump’s Cabinet.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
