CNN
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Former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal from his bid for attorney general has helped Republicans avoid a confirmation row, but lawmakers on Capitol Hill are already wondering how to navigate the next round of unconventional candidates, Donald Trump. This is to remind the Pentagon, whose past statements and background have sparked controversy and has warned against the next president’s choice, that the confirmation process is a long and invasive process.
Some of Trump’s cabinet appointments, such as Pete Hegseth, whom he nominated for secretary of defense, and Tulsi Gabbard, whom he nominated for director of national intelligence, have been made public by Republicans due to loyalty to Trump or Trump’s nominees. may be forced to choose between growing concerns that some may not. Or it could be impossible to approve in the narrowly controlled Senate.
Mr. Hegseth gathered Thursday with several Republican senators, many of whom are considered close allies of Mr. Trump, for a series of meetings. Among the lawmakers in attendance: Tennessee’s Marsha Blackburn, who said it was a “great meeting,” and Oklahoma’s Markwayne Mullin, who called Hegseth “extremely qualified to do the job.” It was evaluated as follows.
Early in the morning of these meetings, new details about the 2017 police report emerged. The report alleges that one woman was stopped by Hegseth from leaving her hotel room, took her cell phone, and “sexually assaulted her, even though she remembered saying ‘no.’ He was said to have claimed that “There were a lot,” CNN reported.
Police have declined to press charges, and Hegseth maintains the encounter was consensual.
But while some members of the party have expressed support for the nomination, other Republicans on the Hill have warned of growing concerns about Hegseth. Many senators have known Hegseth, the Fox News host, for years, but the process of selecting him as defense secretary required them to consider him and his views in a new light. there will be.
First, Republicans warned him that the confirmation process would be lengthy and at times filled with meetings with skeptical senators, as they had with Gaetz just before the former congressman withdrew his name from the list for attorney general. , it is clear that it will reach its climax. The high-stakes confirmation hearing is likely to delve deeper into the allegations against him. Aides and lawmakers have cautioned against senators before they grill him on how he is equipped to lead an organization as large as the Pentagon, given his limited experience.
The other biggest issue is past comments Hegseth has made about women serving in combat roles in the military. With a majority of 53 seats, Hegseth and the other Trump candidates only need to lose three Republican votes, giving them little margin for error.
In a sign of the difficulties ahead for Mr. Trump’s election, Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer on Thursday called the sexual assault allegations against Mr. Hegseth “quite concerning,” but Mr. said he would not prejudge Mr. Hegseth until he had a chance to fully examine Mr. Trump’s policies. background.
Hegseth is not alone. Another Republican appointee of President Trump, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, is also facing intense scrutiny as she may soon be sworn in for her views on agencies that conduct oversight and surveillance.
One Republican aide warned, “If you were to rank people who are most in need, she would be No. 1.”
Sen. James Lankford, the newest addition to the Senate Republican leadership, told CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday that being asked about President Trump’s choice for director of national intelligence would raise “a lot of questions.”
Asked if she had any concerns about Gabbard, Lankford, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told the State of the Union: “I’m sure there will be a lot of questions.” “There have been mixed comments, but we want to know the rest of the story.”
Another controversial figure, including his vaccine skepticism, is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom the president-elect has nominated to be the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Gaetz’s swift exit underscored that the next president will face at least some hurdles down the line, even if Republicans soon control both chambers of Congress and the White House. .
Gaetz withdrew from consideration after heading to the Capitol on Wednesday to meet with Republican senators in an attempt to shore up support for his nomination. But on Thursday morning, President Trump called Gates with the bad news. Mr. Gates does not have the votes for confirmation in the Senate, according to a person with direct knowledge of the call.
When news of Gates’ decision to decline his nomination for attorney general reached senators on Capitol Hill, many felt a sense of relief, knowing that Gates’ confirmation would be difficult. Ta.
“It’s going to be very challenging. Very challenging. He’s the most challenging of the candidates,” one Republican senator said on condition of free speech.
Some previous picks have raised questions about the extent to which Trump’s nominees are vetted before the president-elect announces their names. CNN reported that several members of the Trump transition team were shocked when they learned of the sexual assault allegations against Hegseth while they were announcing new cabinet members.
Asked about how the Trump campaign is vetting potential candidates, Cramer told reporters: “That’s their concern. Either they don’t want to vet them any further, or these candidates… It’s up to them whether they want to bet on someone.” Our job is to be a veterinarian. If they don’t, we will. If they do it, so do we. ”
Asked whether the allegations facing Hegseth would give him pause, Kramer said, “Given that we have a problem with sexual assault within the military, this is a pretty big issue.” .
“This is why background checks are done, this is why hearings are held, this is why there is scrutiny. I’m not going to prejudge him, but certainly this is a pretty disturbing accusation.” said.
Mr Hegseth insisted on Thursday that he was “totally exonerated” in the investigation into the charges against him, as there were no charges against him.
“As far as the media is concerned, I’ll keep this very simple. This matter has been thoroughly investigated and I’m completely cleared. That’s what I’m going to leave it at,” he told reporters. Ta.
No charges have been filed, but the report does not say that police have determined that the charges, which Mr. Hegseth’s lawyers have asserted, are false.
His lawyer acknowledged that Hegseth later entered into a settlement agreement with his accuser that included the payment of an undisclosed amount of money and a confidentiality clause. Although Ms. Hegseth maintained that the encounter was consensual, her lawyer said the woman was prepared to make accusations against Mr. Hegseth during the #MeToo movement and that it would cost him his job as a Fox News host. He said he was concerned that he might lose some.
Mullin said Hegseth voluntarily raised the sexual assault allegations against him at a meeting at the Capitol. Based on the police report, Marin said she does not consider the incident to be a sexual assault.
“He spoke about it voluntarily,” Marin told reporters after the meeting. “Obviously, we started getting ahead of that. That’s a topic that’s going to be discussed.”
On Sunday, the Oklahoma Republican continued his vigorous defense of Hegseth, stressing on CNN that he has not been charged with a crime.
“It’s unfortunate in today’s world that you can be charged with anything, but especially in something like this, you’re automatically presumed guilty,” he said. I mentioned it in the “Kyosho”.
Pressed on Hegseth’s comments that women should not be able to serve in combat, Marin stressed that the final decision would be made by the next president.
“I have three girls. I don’t want to limit them,” he told Bash. “But ultimately, President Trump makes that decision. And President Trump respects everyone who serves in the military, male or female. There are no limitations.”
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s Sam Fossum and Eileen Graff contributed to this report.
