WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Defense Department, Pete Hegseth, is facing a difficult road to confirmation in the Senate as several Republican senators are concerned over allegations of drinking and reports of mistreatment of women.
The latest development comes after a new series of allegations surrounding Hegseth’s past, including alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct in his past.
“I think some of these articles are very disturbing,” Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) told CBS News. “He obviously has a chance to defend himself here, but some of this stuff is going to be difficult.”
Both Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said they are noncommittal on Hegseth.
“I would just urge my Republican colleagues, who are very worried, I know a number of them are expressing public concern — it’s fine, but I would just urge them, before they make up their minds, right before they make up their minds, let them have this hearing and listen to let’s go through the process here,” Sen. Josh Hawley said.
NBC News reported late Tuesday that as many as six Republican senators are against the nomination. With a slim majority in the Senate, Hegseth can afford to lose only three GOP votes.
Hegseth is facing allegations of sexual assault of a California woman in 2017, according to a police report was made public after Trump announced he would nominate him for defense secretary.
NBC News also reported Tuesday that Hegseth’s drinking was a cause of concern for his colleagues at Fox News. Two of them said Hegseth smelled of alcohol before he went on air multiple times.
The New Yorker published a story on Sunday about a 2015 whistleblower’s report from a veterans’ organization Hegseth ran, which claimed he was repeatedly intoxicated on the job.
Hegseth was on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, along with his wife, meeting with multiple senators.
“We’re going to meet with every senator that wants to meet with us, across the board, and we welcome their advice as we go through the advice and consent process,” Hegseth told reporters as he arrived.
Trump Senior adviser Jason Miller appeared to dismiss the allegations against Hegseth in an interview with CNN.
“So, when it comes to Pete Hegseth, there aren’t any concerns, and we feel very good about his positioning for being confirmed by the Senate,” Miller said. “Now we have to take the process very seriously.”
