Washington:
The US Senate appeared poised Friday to narrowly affirm former Fox Information host Peter Hegseth for protection secretary, with opponents saying Donald Trump’s choose has nowhere close to the expertise for the large job and a disturbing historical past of heavy ingesting and home abuse.
Hegseth’s resume is so skinny and his listing of alleged private points so lengthy that he makes an uncommon choose to guide the world’s greatest nuclear-armed navy with about 2.9 million staff and an $850 billion finances.
He has by no means led a big group. He served as a serious within the Nationwide Guard however is best recognized for his work till lately as a number on Trump-friendly Fox Information.
After his nomination, a slew of damaging allegations emerged about previous ingesting excesses and accusations of abusive habits towards his second spouse and one case of sexual assault.
His former sister-in-law Danielle Hegseth mentioned in an affidavit obtained by lawmakers that she was subjected to emotional abuse by him, and was advised by his second spouse that she as soon as hid from him in a closet as a result of she “feared for her private security.”
In line with the affidavit, Hegseth additionally advised his ex-sister-in-law that girls mustn’t work or have the precise to vote, and mentioned that “Christians wanted to have extra youngsters to allow them to overtake the Muslim inhabitants.”
Hegseth denies any wrongdoing and Trump has stood by him, telling reporters Friday: “Pete’s a really, excellent man.”
Hegseth has a combative media character, fierce loyalty and telegenic seems to be — widespread hallmarks in Trump’s entourage.
Supporters say his deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq give him the perception to run the Pentagon higher than the highest brass sometimes thought-about for the job.
Difficult Senate math
In his Senate hearings and media appearances, Hegseth has aggressively pushed house the necessity to make the US navy much less “woke” and extra “deadly.” He has additionally targeted on ending what he says has been decreasing of requirements to assist girls enter the navy.
He calls the allegations of improper private habits in opposition to him “smears” however has mentioned he’ll cease ingesting alcohol if confirmed to move the Pentagon.
Republicans maintain solely a skinny majority within the Senate and two of the social gathering’s 53 senators — Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski — are anticipated to vote in opposition to Hegseth, becoming a member of what is predicted to be a unanimous “no” from Democrats.
That may nonetheless permit Hegseth to squeak by means of. If yet one more Republican voted in opposition to, it could make 50-50 — with Trump’s vice chairman, JD Vance, coming to interrupt the tie.
On Thursday, the Senate confirmed John Ratcliffe to move the CIA, whereas a vote on Kristi Noem’s nomination to guide Homeland Safety is predicted Sunday morning.
Focus then shifts to Treasury nominee Scott Bessent and Trump’s choose for Transport, Sean Duffy.
These votes are usually not anticipated to be tough for the Republicans.
Nevertheless, the divisions uncovered by Hegseth’s nomination will flare up once more subsequent week when three extra of Trump’s most contentious nominees enter the highlight.
Kash Patel — Trump’s choose to guide the FBI — goes earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, the identical day as Tulsi Gabbard’s listening to in entrance of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Each are going through main questions over their character, judgement and former positions — together with Gabbard’s echoing of Kremlin speaking factors on Ukraine. They don’t seem to be anticipated to get any Democratic help.
Thursday is prone to be a day of drama because the Senate holds the primary of two scheduled affirmation hearings for Trump’s Well being Secretary nominee Robert F Kennedy Jr, who’s prone to be grilled on his anti-vaccine statements and embrace of different conspiracy theories.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)