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The US Senate confirmed one of the most controversial candidates for the cabinet of Donald Trump to be at the helm of Pentagon, despite accusations of sexual abuse and alcohol abuse.
The Pete Hegsetth will become the US Defense Minister after the Senate voted 51-50 in his favor late on Friday night after the Vice President JD Vance broke the draw.
Republican Senators of Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, joined Democrats in voting against Hegseth’s certificate.
Hegsetth survived the last attempt at Democrat to prevent his confirmation after his former sister -in -law Danielle Hegsetth made a statement under the oath accusing him that he had abused his ex -wife so much that she was hid in the closet out of fear for her safety. She also stated that the new secretary had abused alcohol for years.
McConnell said he had voted against Hegseth because the candidate “did not provide significant observations on how to defend Taiwan or the Philippines” and did not “articulate in detail strategic vision for” dealing with China.
Murkowski said on Thursday that she couldn’t vote for him “pure conscience“, while Collins said she was”I’m not convinced that his attitude about women serving in combat roles has changed. ”
On the eve of voting, Trump told reporters on Friday that “he was very surprised that Collins and Murkowski did so,” adding that “Pete is a very, very good man.”
He also predicted that McConnell would refrain: “Of course, Mitch is always ‘no’, I suppose.”
Trump shocked Washington and veterans’ circles When he chose Hegseth, former Fox News manager who served in the National Guard, for the role. It’s been since then persecuted by accusations Sexual attacks, alcohol abuse, misogyni, sexism and racism.
Hegsetth said in writing answers to questions that he paid $ 50 thousand A woman who accused him of a sex attack in the California hotel room in 2017, according to senator Elizabeth Warren.
Hegsetth rejected charges of sexual assault, his character and readiness for a leader in Pentagon as a “defamation campaign” in his Senate affirmative hearing Last week. He also tried to revise his previous statements about women soldiers, saying that they would “have access to land combat roles, since the standards remain high”.
In Ether Hegsetth, he became known for condemning “alertness” in the military and diversity, equality and inclusive initiatives. The Dei policies in the military were “sharing the torso” and forcing the “commander to walk on the egg shell,” Hegsetth said at his hearing.
An additional fireworks certificate in Senate could follow when the senators on January 29, or January 30, were prepared by two other disputed Cabinet candidates, Robert F Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard. Both former Democrats, Kennedy was elected Minister of Health and Gabbard as director of the National Intelligence.
