Senate Advances Hegseth as Trump's Sec.01/24 06:11

   

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate advanced the nomination of Pete Hegseth as 
President Donald Trump's defense secretary Thursday on a largely party-line 
vote, despite grave objections from Democrats and stirring unease among 
Republicans over his behavior and qualifications to lead the U.S. military.

   Two Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of 
Maine, broke ranks with Trump and his allies who have mounted an extensive 
public campaign to push Hegseth toward confirmation. The former combat veteran 
and Fox News host faces allegations of excessive drinking and aggressive 
actions toward women, which he has denied. The vote was 51-49, with a final 
vote on confirmation expected Friday.

   Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer implored his colleagues to think 
seriously, "Is this the best man we have to lead the greatest military in the 
world?"

   Murkowksi, in a lengthy statement, said that his behaviors "starkly 
contrast" with what is expected of the military.

   "I remain concerned about the message that confirming Mr. Hegseth sends to 
women currently serving and those aspiring to join," Murkowski wrote on social 
media.

   Both Murkowski and Collins noted Hegseth's past statements that women should 
not fill military combat roles. He sought to temper those statements during the 
confirmation process.

   Collins said that after a lengthy discussion with Hegseth, "I am not 
convinced that his position on women serving in combat roles has changed."

   Collins said that while she appreciates Hegseth's "courageous military 
service and his ongoing commitment to our service members and their families, I 
am concerned that he does not have the experience and perspective necessary to 
succeed in the job."

   Rarely has a Cabinet choice encountered such swirling allegations of 
wrongdoing. The outcome provides a measure of Trump's power and a test for the 
Senate as it considers the president's other outsider Cabinet picks, including 
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., for Health and Human Services, Kash Patel at the FBI 
and Tulsi Gabbard for Director of the Office of National Intelligence.

   Republican senators, and some Democrats, appear ready to give the president 
his team. Only Matt Gaetz, the former congressman who was Trump's initial 
choice for attorney general, was met with enough resistance that his nomination 
was withdrawn.

   The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee has dismissed the claims 
against Hegseth as factually inaccurate.

   It will take a simple majority of senators to confirm Hegseth's nomination. 
Most Republicans, who hold a 53-seat majority in the chamber, have signaled 
they will back the nominee, though Vice President JD Vance could be called in 
to break a tie vote.

   "I am ironclad in my assessment that the nominee, Mr. Hegseth, is prepared 
to be the next secretary of defense," the chairman, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., 
said in a statement on the eve of voting. "The Senate needs to confirm this 
nominee as fast as possible."

   A new president's national security nominees are often the first to be lined 
up for confirmation, to ensure U.S. safety at home and abroad. Already the 
Senate has overwhelmingly confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state in a 
unanimous vote, and confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director Thursday.

   But Hegseth stands in a category of his own amid allegations that he 
sexually assaulted a woman at a Republican conference in California, which he 
has denied as a consensual encounter, and of heavy drinking at events when he 
led a veterans organization.

   AP reported Thursday Hegseth paid $50,000 to the woman who accused him of 
sexual assault in 2017, according to answers he provided to a senator during 
his confirmation process.

   Separately, a new claim emerged this week in an affidavit from a former 
sister-in-law who claimed Hegseth was abusive to his second wife to the point 
that she feared for her safety. Hegseth has denied the allegation. In divorce 
proceedings, neither Hegseth nor the woman claimed to be a victim of domestic 
abuse.

   Schumer said Thursday that Hegseth is unqualified for the job.

   "One of the kindest words that might be used to describe Mr. Hegseth is 
erratic, and that's a term you don't want at DOD," Schumer said. "He has a 
clear problem of judgment."

   A Princeton and Harvard-educated former combat veteran, Hegseth went on to 
make a career at Fox News, where he hosted a weekend show. Trump tapped him as 
the defense secretary to lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million service 
members, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of $850 billion.

   During a fiery confirmation hearing, Hegseth swatted away allegations of 
wrongdoing one by one -- dismissing them as "smears" -- as he displayed his 
military credentials and vowed to bring "warrior culture" to the top Pentagon 
post.

   Hegseth has promised not to drink on the job if confirmed.

   Wicker said he had been briefed a third time on the FBI background 
investigation into Hegseth. He said "the allegations unfairly impugning his 
character do not pass scrutiny."

   But senators have remained doubtful of his experience and abilities and the 
alleged behavior that could lead to reprimand or firing for military personnel 
he would now be expected to lead.

   Still, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, herself a combat veteran and sexual assault 
survivor, has signaled her backing.