“Zero” Senate Republicans are opposing Pete Hegseth’s affirmation, sources informed The Submit on Wednesday, because the protection secretary-designee is making the rounds on Capitol Hill and defiantly proclaiming he’ll “by no means again down” within the face of widespread allegations of previous misconduct.
“There are zero ‘nos’ proper now,” one GOP supply acquainted with the matter mentioned, ripping smears towards the previous Military fight infantryman within the press towards the Pentagon choose as “BS.”
Not less than six Republicans have privately expressed reservations about President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee, NBC Information reported Tuesday, as claims of binge ingesting, sexual impropriety and monetary mismanagement throughout his tenure as chief of a veterans advocacy group pile up.
“For each nameless ‘supply’ making an unfounded declare about Hegseth, there are twice as many colleagues and former colleagues who’re placing their names publicly on document to refute the defamatory, meritless slander,” one other Senate Republican aide informed The Submit.
“The swamp is simply frightened of the DOD shakeup that’s coming,” the aide mentioned. “Hegseth ought to have a listening to, like some other nominee, the place he can reply any excellent questions.”
Solely 4 Republicans must vote towards him to tank the affirmation.
Hegseth is scheduled to satisfy with soon-to-be Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-SD), incoming Senate Armed Providers Committee chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), an Military veteran herself who has voted down previous political appointees accused of sexual misconduct.
Trump, 78, tapped the 44-year-old vet of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars after being impressed by his ebook “The Conflict on Warriors,” which was revealed earlier this yr and denounced so-called “woke” initiatives on the Pentagon which have alienated fighting-age males from enlisting.
“I had a name with the president-elect this morning. He mentioned, ‘maintain going, maintain preventing,’” Hegseth informed reporters, which a Trump spokeswoman later confirmed to The Submit.
“Why would I again down? I’ve at all times been a fighter. I’m right here for the fighters. That is private & passionate.”
“I’m doing this for the warfighters, not the warmongers,” he additionally defiantly proclaimed on X forward of his Hill conferences. “The Left is afraid of disrupters and alter brokers. They’re afraid of [Trump] —and me. In order that they smear w/ faux, nameless sources & BS tales. They don’t need fact.”
“Our warriors by no means again down, & neither will I,” the previous Fox Information character added.
Nameless sources have come ahead from Hegseth’s previous detailing his alleged issues with ingesting, inappropriate sexual advances and fiscally irresponsible tenure as the previous head of each Involved Veterans for America and Veterans for Freedom.
Unnamed former Fox Information staff have additionally accused their ex-colleague of ingesting on the job — whereas others went on the document in X posts to defend his repute.
“I’ve routinely sat on the sofa with @PeteHegseth for 8 years,” mentioned Fox medical contributor Nicole Saphier. “Not as soon as did I think he had consumed something apart from an egg sandwich and occasional earlier than happening air.
“Operating a success piece on a person that’s solely primarily based on nameless sources is cowardly and isn’t journalism,” added former Fox alum Breanna Morello. “I’m keen to go on the document concerning Pete Hegseth.”
“As a former Fox reserving producer, I’ve by no means heard a detrimental comment about Hegseth–till now,” Morello added, sharing a letter she is firing off to each US senator denying the allegations of the Trump choose’s purported ingesting downside.
Hegseth’s lawyer, Tim Parlatore, and previous colleagues at CVA have additionally strenuously denied all allegations.
