Senators prepare for confirmation battles over unorthodox Trump Cabinet picks

CNN
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Republicans avoided the storm that followed the confirmation of former Rep. Matt Gaetz. withdrew from consideration He served as attorney general, but lawmakers on Capitol Hill are already preparing for how to navigate Trump’s next unorthodox pick — and have warned about the president-elect’s choice to lead the Pentagon, as he faces controversy over his past comments and background. that the approval process is a long and invasive process.

Some of Trump’s Cabinet picks, including Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, and Tulsi Gabbard, his pick for director of national intelligence, may force Republicans to choose between their loyalty to Trump and their growing concerns that some of their nominees will not be committed. be ready for office or he may not be confirmed in the narrowly controlled Senate.

Hegseth met Thursday for a series of meetings with a handful of Republican senators, many of whom are seen as close allies of Trump. Lawmakers who showed up included Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who called it a “great meeting,” and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, who called Hegseth “very qualified to do the job.”

In the early morning hours of those meetings, new details emerged about a 2017 police report in which a woman alleged Hegseth prevented her from leaving her hotel room, took her phone, and then sexually assaulted her, even though she remembered him saying “no.” ‘ too much,” CNN reported.

Police declined to file charges, and Hegseth maintained the encounter was consensual.

However, while some members of the party signaled support for the candidacy, Other Republicans on the Hill warn that concerns about Hegseth are growing. Although many senators have known Fox News host Hegseth for years, the vetting process for him to become Defense secretary will force them to examine him and his views in a new light.

First, Republicans have been clear with Gaetz, as they were with Gaetz shortly before the former congressman withdrew his name from the attorney general nomination process, that the confirmation process is a lengthy process, involving repeated meetings with sometimes skeptical senators and culminating in a decision . A high-stakes confirmation hearing that will delve deeper into the allegations against him. Aides and members warn that this was before he was grilled by senators about whether he was equipped to run such a massive entity as the Pentagon, given his limited experience.

Another important issue is Hegseth’s past statements about women in combat roles in the military. With a 53-seat majority, Hegseth and the other Trump candidates can only afford to lose three Republican votes, leaving little room for error.

In a sign of potential challenges ahead for Trump’s election, GOP Sen. Kevin Cramer on Thursday called the sexual assault allegation against Hegseth “pretty concerning,” but Cramer said he’s biased against Hegseth before the Senate has a chance to fully vet her accusation. He said he wouldn’t be there. background.

Hegseth is not alone. Another candidate Trump is closely following among Republicans is former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who has come under increasing scrutiny for her views on surveillance and the agencies that conduct it, and who he may soon run himself.

“If we’re the ones in the most trouble, he’s No. 1,” one GOP aide warned.

And one of Trump’s picks who has sparked controversy, including vaccine skepticism, is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the president-elect’s pick to be the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Gaetz’s swift retreat underscored that although Republicans will soon control both the halls of Congress and the White House, the president-elect will still face at least some obstacles.

Gaetz withdrew himself from consideration after making his own march to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to meet with GOP senators to rally support for his candidacy. But on Thursday morning Trump called Gaetz The bad news: It didn’t have the votes in the Senate to win approval, according to a source with direct knowledge of the call.

As news of Gaetz’s decision to step down as attorney general spread to senators on Capitol Hill, many members felt a sense of relief, knowing it would be difficult to confirm Gaetz.

“It was going to be very challenging. It’s very challenging. He is the most formidable of the candidates,” said a Republican senator, speaking on condition of a free hand in the background.

Some of the elections held so far have also raised questions about the degree to which Trump’s selections will be scrutinized before the president-elect announces a name. Trump’s transition team was in the middle of announcing new Cabinet picks when they became aware of the sexual assault allegation against Hegseth. CNN reportedstunned several members of the team.

Asked how the Trump team vets potential candidates, Cramer told reporters: “That’s their concern; if they don’t want to do more vetting or want to give them a chance, that’s up to them. Our job is going to be veterinary. If they don’t do it, we do it; if they do it, we do it.”

Asked if the allegations Hegseth faced gave him pause, Cramer said, “It’s a pretty big problem considering we have a sexual assault problem in our military.” he said.

“That’s why you have background checks, that’s why you have hearings, that’s why you go through investigations. “I’m not going to prejudge him, but yes, it’s a pretty worrying accusation,” he said.

Hegseth claimed Thursday that he was “completely exonerated” because of the lack of criminal charges in the investigation into the allegations against him.

“As for the media, I’ll keep it very simple. The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared. I will leave it there,” he told reporters.

Although no charges were filed, report It does not say that the police found the allegations unfounded, Hegseth’s lawyer claimed this.

Hegseth later entered into a settlement agreement with his accuser that included an undisclosed monetary payment and a confidentiality clause, his attorney acknowledged. Although Hegseth insisted the encounter was consensual, the attorney said he feared the woman was ready to make an allegation against him during the #MeToo movement that could cost her her job as a Fox News host.

Mullin said Hegseth voluntarily brought up the sexual assault allegation against him at a meeting on Capitol Hill. According to the police report, Mullin said he did not consider the incident a sexual assault.

“He talked about it voluntarily,” Mullin told reporters after the meeting. “Frankly, we started this business. It is a matter for discussion.”

“As this story progresses you will realize that he was very qualified to do the job and he had to do the job, and it was unfortunate that he was accused of doing something that I don’t believe he did.” Mullin said.

Republican Senator Bill Hagerty also defended Hegseth against the allegations.

“It is a shame that these allegations are nothing more than what you say. “This is what he said,” he said.