Schumer gathers key committee Democrats to discuss Hegseth’s upcoming confirmation hearing
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y.is meeting with Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Democrats Monday night to discuss the confirmation hearing for controversial Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth — just hours before it’s set to take place.
A Senate Democratic source confirmed the last-minute meeting to Fox News Digital.
Schumer and other Democrats made clear their opposition to the former Fox News anchor in the days leading up to the hearing, the first of Candidates of President-elect Donald Trump.
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Schumer is meeting with committee Democrats hours before the hearing. (Reuters)
Meeting, first reported Axioscomes after the New York Democrat his colleague from the club hurried members to fire Trump’s nominees at their upcoming hearings and force them to speak publicly about controversial items on Trump’s agenda, according to a Senate Democratic source.
The source added that Democrats plan to lay the groundwork to say they had early warning about Trump’s Cabinet picks.
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Hegseth was chosen as Trump’s Secretary of Defense. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
In a speech on Monday, Schumer said: “Unfortunately, Mr. Hegseth’s past is deeply troubling, to put it generously. We’ve all read the reports about his radical views, his alleged excessive drinking, allegations of sexual misconduct and his failures in the financial management of multiple organizations. “
Hegseth denied all the allegations, including those suggesting financial mismanagement, sexual abuse and alcohol consumption.
A spokesman for the defense secretary candidate did not immediately provide comment to Fox News Digital.
Schumer criticized Hegseth for various allegations. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Democrats on the SASC include ranking member Jack Reed, DR.I., Jeanne Shaheen, DN.H., Kirsten Gillibrand, DN.Y., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Tim Kaine, D-Va., Angus King, I-Maine, Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.
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Senator Jack Reed and Senator Debbie Fischer during a Senate hearing. (Reuters)
Reed and Hegseth met last week for an extremely brief discussion. Afterwards, a senior SASC member said in a statement: “Today’s meeting did not allay my concerns about Mr Hegseth’s lack of qualifications and raised more questions than answers.”
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“Like any nominee for this critical position, Mr. Hegseth must pass the same high level of vetting as previous nominees for Secretary of Defense,” he added.
