Republican senators met with Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, and downplayed sexual assault allegations against him. Sen. Cynthia Lummis called the allegations a “side issue” and praised Hegseth’s ability to lead the Defense Department. Around 10 to 12 senators met with Hegseth behind closed doors for less than an hour. Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran and former Fox News host, has faced misconduct allegations, including claims from a whistleblower report of being repeatedly intoxicated on the job. Senators expressed support for Hegseth, emphasizing his commitment to a strong military and downplaying the accusations. Some senators criticized the media’s focus on personal allegations against Hegseth, noting that each Cabinet nominee will undergo a background check. A woman accused Hegseth of sexual assault in 2017, while his mother called him an “abuser of women” in a 2018 email. Hegseth denied the accusations and settled with the accuser. In a podcast interview, Hegseth expressed his opposition to women serving in combat roles, which sparked backlash. The senators praised Hegseth’s ability to boost retention and recruitment levels in the military, despite his controversial comments. Republicans broke with the usual practice of having the FBI conduct background checks on Cabinet nominees and raised concerns about the media’s coverage of the allegations against Hegseth. The Trump transition team did not provide immediate comment on the senators’ remarks.
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Republican Senators Dismiss Misconduct Allegations Following Pete Hegseth Meeting
