The Senate is scheduled to take a test vote on Pete Hegseth's nomination for defense secretary on Thursday, a key indicator of whether new allegations about his personal conduct that surfaced this week are enough to block his confirmation. becomes.
Republican leaders are working to confirm Hegseth as Democrats, who had deemed him unfit to lead the Pentagon, try to persuade a handful of Republican senators to join their opposition. They pointed to a sworn statement submitted to the Senate on Tuesday by Mr. Hegseth's former sister-in-law, which said Mr. Hegseth was frequently drunk and “abusive” to his second wife. states.
Some have said privately that the new allegations against Danielle Dietrich Hegseth, the ex-wife of Mr. Hegseth's brother, are concerning, but there has been no public indication that Republican lawmakers are hesitating. Mr Hegseth has rejected her account, citing several other allegations that have dogged his nomination, including reports of sexual assault and excessive drinking.
Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota and majority leader, has scheduled a vote Thursday afternoon to break the Democratic filibuster and advance Hegseth's nomination to a final confirmation vote, and will vote Friday night. Preparations will be made.
He will need the support of all but three Republicans to win confirmation, given that Democrats are almost certain to vote unanimously against him.
During his confirmation hearing, Mr. Hegseth categorically denied the numerous allegations that have surfaced against him, calling them “anonymous slander.”
Mr. Hegseth's second wife, Samantha Hegseth, has publicly stated that Mr. Hegseth never physically abused her. But Trump transition officials told military committee leaders last week during background interviews that Hegseth had abused and continues to abuse alcohol, according to people familiar with the investigation. I told you.
In a statement Thursday, the committee's top Democrat, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, acknowledged the account, calling it “true and accurate.”
But Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi and the committee chairman, said the FBI's characterization of the press conference was “grossly factually incorrect.”
According to Daniel Hegseth's affidavit, Hegseth exhibited such “erratic and aggressive behavior” that his second wife, Samantha Hegseth, once hid from him in a closet. He said he had given safe words to close friends so he could call for help if he needed it. . She also described several episodes in which she said she personally witnessed Mr. Hegseth drinking to excess, including once while in uniform and several times to the point where he nearly passed out. It is detailed.
Many Republicans deny the allegations.
“Why should I believe her word?” South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said of Daniel Hegseth in a brief interview. “He said no. I was always drunk and stumbling around and there seemed to be other people there.”
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who had been skeptical of Hegseth's nomination from the beginning but has stood firm in her support for him, was similarly unmoved.
“His ex-wife denies it, so it doesn't really go very far,” Ernst, who was under intense pressure from Trump supporters to support Hegseth, told reporters at the Capitol. told. “It has no weight.”
Sens. Todd Young (R-Indiana) and John Curtis (R-Utah) declined questions from reporters about the affidavit Wednesday.
Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, who has not endorsed Hegseth, also declined to answer questions about his candidacy.
