Chiefs warn that Pete Hegseth’s hearing will be matched by Brett Kavanaugh’s with enthusiasm on both sides.
Senate Republicans fear that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing will be a repeat of Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s 2018 Supreme Court hearing.
Both Kavanaugh and Hegseth have been accused of sexual misconduct and have denied the allegations. Hegseth’s plan to release his accuser in a non-disclosure agreement sets up a hearing to fuel tension and fervor from Democrats and Republicans.
Hegseth will move forward with his nomination despite warnings from Senate Republicans that he may face uncomfortable questions about allegations of sexual misconduct and allegations of heavy drinking and financial mismanagement.
“I told him it was going to be a sad thing, like the Brett Kavanaugh hearing,” said Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn, according to Brett Kavanaugh. The hill.
In 2018, dozens of protesters were arrested by Capitol Police in the Senate office buildings, leading to senators being escorted around the Capitol grounds. Kavanaugh also gained notoriety as he discussed allegations of sexual harassment and was cross-examined before he was nominated to the Supreme Court.
While Cornyn said senators remain “open” to confirming Hegseth, he added “They want the process to continue and we will respond with any new information they receive.”
“Everything will rise. I think it’s going to be Kavanaugh on steroids,” said North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis.
Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to reporters as he arrives at a meeting with Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA). Now, some are warning that his hearing could be similar to that of a Supreme Court judge (Getty Images)
Senators noted that the situation hinged on whether Hegseth’s accuser would agree to appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee. In 2018, Kavanaugh’s accuser Christine Blasey-Ford appeared before Congress to explain allegations of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh when they were teenagers.
Senators Joni Ernst of Iowa and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina both said they would not vote against Hegseth because of the anonymous allegations.
Hegseth’s counsel said the man, 44, is willing to discuss all the allegations he faces in meetings with senators, according to Mr. The hill.
“Mr. Hegseth assured the senators he met with that they will be able to fulfill their duties of advising and agreeing when it comes to this and all topics,” said the adviser.
The next leader of the Senate Republican, John Thune of South Dakota, said that it will be the decision of the Armed Services Committee if they want to call the accuser to testify.
“That’s a decision the committee, him, and — they’re all going to have to make that,” he said of the panel with Hegseth.
“As a general rule, I think it is important that the hearing be conducted during the day clearly,” he added.
Brett Kavanaugh testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill on September 27, 2018, in Washington, DC. Senators have warned Hegseth that his confirmation hearing could be similar to Kavanaugh’s, which showed the nominee becoming increasingly animated during questioning (Getty Images)
Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, who is the next chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said he did not know whether the accuser would testify.
“I think it depends on what you say,” she said.
Rutgers University political science professor Ross Baker said Democrats are likely to read the most controversial parts of the 2017 police report into sexual misconduct allegations against Hegseth.
“We have to assume that it will contain clear information, and it is likely that it will be presented by the Democrats at the hearing of the Armed Services Committee,” he said, according to the report. The hill.
The accuser said Hegseth took her phone and prevented her from leaving her hotel room during a conference in Monterey, California. Hegseth said the meeting was consensual and confirmed he was “comfortable with what happened.”
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