Pete Hegseth refused to admit that sexual assault or domestic violence should disqualify a candidate for defense secretary while Sen. Tim Kaine hammered him over his infidelity during his confirmation hearing.
The senator went after the former Fox News anchor for cheating on both his wife and a woman who gave birth two months prior.
Pete Hegseth came under heated questioning from Sen. Tim Kaine (D., Va.) over infidelity, his behavior in his previous marriages, his drinking and whether he disclosed a 2017 sexual-assault allegation to President-elect Donald Trump’s team when he was being vetted to lead the Pentagon.
Senator Tim Kaine used his time during Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing to question the nominee about assault allegations.
NewsNation host Chris Cuomo criticized Democratic Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine on Tuesday for using his time during Defense secretary nominee
The Oklahoma Republican tried to defend Hegseth against allegations of sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse. It didn't go especially well.
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Defense Department sat for a Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday after hearings for Veterans’ Affairs Secretary nominee Doug Collins and Interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum were postponed.
But did this happen at the Pete Hegseth hearings in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee this week? If you thought those kinds of questions would dominate the hearings, you must be living under the illusion that we live in a serious country.
Overall, Republicans were the more serious party at these hearings. The committee chair, Sen. Roger Wicker, did note that we live in the most dangerous security environment since World War II. Sen. Tim Sheehy did mention shipbuilding. Sen. Ted Budd did ask about warplanes. Sen. Eric Schmitt did ask about drones.
Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) explains his direct questions to Hegseth about infidelity and sexual assault allegations
The nomination of Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense received support from Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2024.