Washington —Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to rule on defense, returned to Capitol Hill on Monday as he tries to shore up backup among Senate Republicans as he faces allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement . veterans charity And above all swallowing.
Hegseth met with at least two Republican senators on Monday who expressed concerns about the allegations. In statements after the meetings, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina both seemed more than pleased with Trump’s selection.
Ernst noted, “As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair trial based on truth, not anonymous sources.”
Graham shared a similar sentiment regarding those who were anonymously making allegations involving the former Fox News personality’s behavior.
He noted, “Allegations being made regarding the financial management of veterans service organizations and personal misconduct should be considered by the Committee only if they are supported by testimony before Congress – not from anonymous sources.”
Hegseth has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Amidst stories of his alleged habits, several Republican senators Said He, along with Graham, found the allegations “disturbing”.
Before meeting with Hegseth on Monday, Ernst said she needed to pay more attention to his stances on women in combat and sexual assaults in the military before deciding whether to support him. Ernst is a survivor of sexual assault and an Army veteran.
He noted Monday that he had received guarantees from Hegseth about how everyone would be treated if he led the Pentagon.
“I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s accountability and respect for the process. After our encouraging conversation, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will lead our troops based on the quality and standards And that will uphold women’s roles and values, not quotas – and that will prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual harassment within the ranks,” her overview noted.
