What to look at as Pete Hegseth faces questions on expertise, private previous

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By MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN, Related Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Protection secretary nominee Pete Hegseth will publicly face senators for the primary time Tuesday after weeks of privately pushing again on criticism over his {qualifications} and private previous.

Hegseth, a 44-year-old Military Nationwide Guard veteran and former Fox Information Channel weekend host, has confronted sturdy criticism from Democrats over his skinny resume in comparison with earlier protection secretaries, together with allegations of extreme consuming, sexual assault and mismanagement of veterans group funds — all of which he denies.

Many Republicans have been vocally supportive of Hegseth’s nomination, however others have remained noncommittal because the studies surfaced about his previous conduct.

President-elect Donald Trump has remained strongly supportive of Hegseth, who has labored to win favor with Senate Republicans in one-on-one conferences during the last month.

Trump posted on social media in December that “Pete is a WINNER, and there may be nothing that may be accomplished to vary that!!!”

What to look at as Hegseth’s listening to will get underway on Tuesday morning:

How he would run the division

Republicans have mentioned they view Hegseth’s fight expertise as an asset, however Democrats say they’re deeply involved that he’s largely inexperienced and untested on the worldwide stage.

The Protection Division has a price range exceeding $800 billion, with about 1.3 million active-duty troops and one other 1.4 million within the Nationwide Guard and Reserves and civilian staff based mostly worldwide. Hegseth would face a frightening array of worldwide crises, from the wars within the Center East and Ukraine and the increasing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the rising competitors with China.

Search for Democrats to query Hegseth on the specifics of how he would handle the large division — and the way he would signify america in diplomatic conditions all over the world.

“We want a severe candidate, one that’s able to doing this job,” mentioned Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Democrat on the committee.

Republicans say his resume is a bonus over conventional Pentagon leaders and reward him for eager to overhaul the division.

“Whereas possibly not the credentials which have historically been on the resume of nominees for secretary of protection, I feel that he brings lots and he brings some issues that a few of these extra conventional nominees didn’t deliver,” mentioned North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer, a Republican member of the panel. “He’ll be disruptive in a great way.”

Girls in fight

Hegseth mentioned as just lately as final 12 months that girls “straight up” shouldn’t serve in fight roles. So consideration can be on the 2 feminine Iraq Warfare veterans on the committee — Republican Joni Ernst of Iowa and Democrat Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, who misplaced each legs when a Blackhawk helicopter she was piloting was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

Duckworth mentioned forward of the listening to that she is going to query Hegseth on whether or not he’ll attempt to scale back the position of girls in fight and the way he would accomplish that. How would it not have an effect on recruiting? Would males be deployed extra typically consequently? “We are able to’t go to warfare with out them,” she mentioned.

Ernst has met with Hegseth twice after saying she needs to listen to extra about his views. She has not but mentioned if she is going to assist him.

Hegseth mentioned on “The Megyn Kelly Present” in December that “if we now have the fitting commonplace and girls meet that commonplace, roger. Let’s go.”

Allegations of sexual assault

Hegseth has been preventing again towards allegations of extreme consuming and the revelation that he made a settlement fee after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies.

Democrats are anticipated to demand an evidence from Hegseth. In a letter to him final week, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who’s on the Armed Companies panel, questioned if Hegseth would be capable to lead, saying she was “deeply involved by the various methods during which your previous conduct and rhetoric signifies that you’re unfit.”

Republican Sen. Ernst, who’s a survivor of sexual assault, mentioned her second assembly with Hegseth had “ encouraging conversations.” She mentioned Hegseth dedicated “to finishing a full audit of the Pentagon” and to hiring a senior official who will “prioritize and strengthen my work to forestall sexual assault throughout the ranks.”

Many Republicans have rallied round Hegseth, with some showing to query if the studies are true. Tennessee Sen. Invoice Hagerty mentioned final month that it’s a “disgrace” that one thing that has been beforehand investigated “is again to some he mentioned, she mentioned factor.”

Will he have the votes?

Hegseth is more likely to have near-unanimous Republican assist on the committee and doubtlessly within the full Senate. However it may rely upon how successfully he is ready to defend himself, and his perspective, within the listening to. He can solely lose 4 Republican votes within the 53-47 Senate if all Democrats vote towards his affirmation, as Vice President-elect JD Vance may forged a tie-breaking vote.

South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds, a Republican member of the Armed Companies panel, mentioned Hegseth has been simple with Republican senators that he is aware of he should tackle a number of the allegations towards him.

“I feel he’ll,” Rounds mentioned, “and on the similar time, we’ll give him ample alternative to speak about what he believes his position can be as a secretary, and the imaginative and prescient that he has for the division.”

Rounds mentioned he expects to assist Hegseth, except something adjustments. “I feel the president will get the good thing about the doubt in his nominees,” he mentioned.

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