25 January 2025
US Senate to vote on Pete Hegseth as next Defense Secretary
The US Senate will confirm Pete Hegseth as the next Defense Secretary on Friday.
Hegseth is accused of drinking heavily. He has said that if he becomes in charge of the Pentagon, he will stop drinking alcohol.
The vote will take place Friday evening, requiring only a simple majority to confirm Hegseth, as Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate.
However, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Senator Susan Collins of Maine have indicated they will not vote, meaning Republicans may only lose one more objection. Vice President J.D. Vance may be called upon to break the tie.
President Donald Trump endorsed his nominee as he departed the White House to visit disaster-hit North Carolina and Los Angeles, saying: “He’s a good guy. I hope he does.”
However, Trump criticized Senator Murkowski and Senator Collins, saying: “I was surprised that Collins and Murkowski would do that.”
While Senator Mitch McConnell has not announced how he will vote, Trump indicated that Republicans may vote no.
“And of course Mitch isn’t always a vote, I guess. Isn’t Mitch a vote?” the President asked reporters.
Hegseth is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a Republican convention in California, although he has denied the claims and said the encounter was consensual. He later paid the woman $50,000 (€47,602).
More recently, his former sister-in-law said in an affidavit that Hegseth was abusive to his second wife to the extent that she feared for her safety.
Hegseth has denied the allegation, and in the divorce proceedings, neither Hegseth nor the woman claimed to be victims of domestic abuse.
Hegseth’s previous comments that women should have no role in military combat drew particular concern on Capitol Hill, including from lawmakers who had volunteered.
However, Hegseth has softened those views after meeting with senators during the confirmation process.
km/wdm (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)
