Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday, Jan. 14, where he was grilled about his past behavior and qualifications. Hegseth acknowledged past mistakes, which include alleged infidelity and excessive drinking.
“I’m not a perfect person, as has been acknowledged, saved by the grace of God, by Jesus and Jenny,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth also said many of the accusations against him, including sexual assault, alcohol abuse and financial mismanagement of nonprofits, are false smears.
“All they were out to do Mr. Chairman was to destroy me,” Hegseth said. “And why did they want to destroy me? Because I’m a change agent and a threat to them because Donald Trump was willing to choose me, to empower me, to bring the Defense Department back to what it really should be, which is warfighting.”
The hearing became personal when Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., brought up an incident in California in 2017. A woman accused Hegseth of raping her at a hotel during a work event; Hegseth said the encounter was consensual. Police never charged him but he did sign a non-disclosure agreement with the woman.
“I am shocked that you would stand here and say you were completely cleared,” Kaine said. “Can you so casually cheat on a second wife, and cheat on the mother of a child that had been born two months before, and you tell us you were completely cleared? How is that a complete clear?”
“Senator, the child’s name is Gwendolyn Hope Hegseth, and she’s a child of God, and she’s 7 years old,” Hegseth responded.
Republicans came to Hegseth’s defense, painting him as a good man who has been redeemed.
“How many senators have shown up drunk to vote at night? Have any of you guys asked them to resign from their job? And don’t tell me you’ve never seen it because I know you have,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said. “And then how many senators do you know have gotten divorced for cheating on their wives? Did you ask them to step down?”
Democrats went back on the attack, citing Hegseth’s qualifications and his previous statements about women in combat.
“You’ve said, ‘I don’t want women, I don’t want moms.’ What’s wrong with a mom, by the way? Once you have babies, you, therefore, are no longer able to be lethal?” Sen. Kristin Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said. “You’re basically saying women, after they have children, can’t ever serve in the military in a combat role. It’s a silly thing to say.”
That was also an important issue for Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a veteran.
“As secretary of defense, will you support women continuing to have the opportunity to serve in combat roles?” Ernst asked.
“Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles given the standards remain high,” Hegseth responded.
After the hearing, multiple Republicans shared their intention to vote for Hegseth. They expressed confidence that he’ll be confirmed.
