WASHINGTON (AP) — Supporters of President-elect Donald Trump gathered at the Capitol on Thursday despite new details emerging about allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. The group rallied around Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for the Pentagon.
Watch several senators’ reactions to the news of Matt Gaetz’s resignation in the video player above.
The Republican endorsement of Hegseth comes after another controversial Trump candidate, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his candidacy for attorney general. Gates said it was clear he had become a “distraction” as pressure mounted on the House of Representatives to release an ethics report on his sexual misconduct allegations. Lawyers for the two women said their clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gates paid them for sex on multiple occasions since 2017, when he was a member of the Florida House of Representatives.
Read more: Gaetz meets privately with senators as House Republicans refuse to release ethics report
The two nominees’ pasts and treatment of women have raised new questions within the Republican Party, which has come under pressure from President Trump and his allies for quick Cabinet confirmation. At the same time, his transition has so far balked at the scrutiny and background checks traditionally required.
Few Republican senators have publicly criticized President Trump’s nominees, but it became clear after Gates withdrew that many had private concerns about him. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, called it a “positive move.” Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker called this a “positive development.” Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said Gaetz “puts the country first and I’m happy with his decision.”
Read more: Lawyer says Hegseth paid woman after sexual assault allegation, but he denies wrongdoing
But after his meeting with Hegseth, Republicans rallied around him. “I think he’s going to be in pretty good shape,” said Wicker, who will chair the Senate Armed Services Committee in the next Congress.
Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s pick for secretary of defense, told reporters Thursday.
Cautious language and early reluctance from Republican senators to publicly question Trump’s selection stemmed not only from fear of retaliation from the president-elect, but also because of proper vetting and background checks. They also expressed hope that the process would proceed smoothly. Early disqualification of questionable candidates. Gaetz withdrew after meeting with senators on Wednesday.
Sen. Thom Tillis said Mr. Gates was “in a pressure cooker” when he decided to withdraw, but suggested it would have little effect on Mr. Trump’s other nominees. “Transactions are one at a time,” he said.
Read more: 7 things to know about Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense
As Mr. Hegseth’s nomination progresses, Republicans believe that publicly shelving allegations of sexual misconduct will not receive much backlash, especially after Mr. Trump, who was found responsible for sexual abuse last year, won the election. Looks like he’s betting.
Hegseth held several closed-door meetings with Vice President-elect J.D. Vance on Thursday to shore up support, and later told reporters, “This matter has been thoroughly investigated and I have been completely cleared.” . I’m going to stay away from this issue.”
A 22-page police report released late Wednesday provided the first detailed description of the charges against him. The woman told police that in 2017 at a California hotel, Hegseth took her cell phone, blocked her room door and sexually assaulted her when he refused to leave. The report cites police interviews with the alleged victim, the nurse who treated her, hotel staff, another woman attending the event, and Hegseth.
Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Paratore, said the case was “thoroughly investigated and police found the charges to be false.” Paratore said Hegseth paid the woman in 2023 as part of a confidential settlement to avoid the threat of a baseless lawsuit.
Wicker downplayed the allegations against Hegseth, a former Fox News host, saying, “There were no charges filed by the authorities, so all we know is the reports.”
WATCH: Ethics Committee member Desaulniers says Senate needs to review information from Gaetz investigation
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) said after speaking with Hegseth that he “shared with him the fact that I am saddened by the attack that is coming upon him.”
Hagerty dismissed the allegations as “he said, she said” and said it was “shameful” that they were even raised.
The senator said the focus should instead be on the Pentagon, which Hegseth heads. It is one of the most complex branches of the federal government, with more than 3 million employees, including military and civilians. Sexual assault remains a persistent problem within the military, but Pentagon officials are cautiously optimistic that reported sexual assaults among active-duty soldiers and military academies are on the decline.
Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, who will be the No. 2 Senate Republican next year, said after his meeting with Hegseth that the candidate was a “strong and hard-working leader who promised the Pentagon would focus on strength and hard power, not the status quo.” candidate,” he said. The political challenges that the regime has awakened to. ”
Senate Republicans have not held a hearing after taking office in January, despite questions about whether Mr. Trump’s choice would be properly vetted or whether someone like Mr. Hegseth has enough experience for the job. is under pressure to hold a meeting and approve candidates.
Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, who will take over the top Democratic committee next year, said the reports about Hegseth “underscore the need for a thorough investigation by the FBI into the backgrounds of all nominees.”
Approving Cabinet nominations requires a simple majority, meaning if all Democrats oppose the nomination, four Republican senators would also have to leave the party to reject Trump’s choice. President Trump has made it clear that he is prepared to put maximum pressure on Senate Republicans to give him the nominee he wants, at one point even agreeing to just appoint a nominee without a Senate vote. He even hinted that he would approve.
But senators have so far insisted they have no intention of giving up their constitutional right to speak.
“The president has the right to make the nominations he sees fit, but the Senate also has a responsibility to advise and consent,” said Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota. In Gaetz’s case, he said, “I think it was advice, not consent.”
