Dem senator condemned for calling Hegseth’s young daughter in ‘despicable’ hearing exchange
Sen. Team KaineD-Va., referred to Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s daughter during a heated hearing, drawing a backlash from conservatives on social media who argued the comments crossed a line.
“So you think you’re completely absolved because you haven’t committed any crime?” the former vice presidential candidate told Hegseth during his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
“That’s your definition of liberation. You just had a child two months ago with a woman who wasn’t your wife. I’m shocked that you would stand here and say you’re completely liberated. How can you so casually cheat on another woman and cheat on the mother of a child who was born two month before that?
Kaine commented on Hegseth’s behavior in previous marriages, including an October 2017 incident in Monterey, California, in which Hegseth was accused of sexual assault. Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor, was later acquitted following an investigation and has since described the incident as consensual. “I was fully investigated and fully exonerated,” he said of the allegations.
PETE HEGSETH GOES TO CAPITOL HILL FOR SAD HEARING ON HIS RECORD, PLAN TO SHAKE UP THE PENTAGON
Sen. Tim Kaine and SecDef nominee Pete Hegseth at a Senate confirmation hearing. (Getty Images)
“Senator, her child’s name is Gwendolyn Hope Hegseth and she is God’s child,” Hegseth replied. “She’s 7 years old and I’m glad she’s here.”
“And you cheated on the mother of that child,” Kaine replied. “Less than two months after the birth of that daughter, right?”
Hegseth told Kaine that these were “false allegations” and reiterated that he was “completely exonerated” and “grateful” for the marriage he has with a “wonderful woman” behind him.
Kaine was persistent: “You admitted to having sex at that hotel in October 2017. You said it was consensual. Is that not true?”
HEGSETH WAS ‘INCREDIBLY TALENTED, A BATTLE-PROVEN LEADER’, MILITARY ASSESSMENTS SHOW
Pete Hegseth gestures during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
The two continued to debate the veracity of the allegations against Hegseth, with Kaine questioning the nominee about whether he was honoring his wedding vows.
“I’ll let your words speak for themselves,” Hegseth said at one point.
“As I have admitted to everyone on this board, I am not a perfect person. I’m not claiming that I am,” Hegseth said before being interrupted by Kaine, who went on to accuse Hegseth of withholding information about the impeachment when probed by Trump’s team.
Kaine eventually moved on to question Hegseth about his drinking and other allegations that Hegseth dismissed as “false.”
Conservatives on social media, along with Senator Markwayne MullinR-Okla., at another point in the hearing, took issue with Kaine’s manner of questioning, specifically referring to Hegseth’s daughter.
“Sen. Tim Kaine really tried to use Pete Hegseth’s 7-year-old daughter against himself, despicable,” conservative commentator Drew Hernandez published on X.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Sen. Team Kaine (Getty Images)
“IRONY ALERT: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) tries to teach Pete Hegseth a lesson on adultery,” The First TV published on X. “A reminder that Tim Kaine ran on the same failed presidential ticket as Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton’s legal wife.”
“Tim Kaine has a lot to say about Pete Hegseth’s behavior during his marriage,” said Will Chamberlain, senior adviser to Project Article III. published on X. “Here’s Tim Kaine campaigning with Doug Emhoff, who — while married — got his nanny pregnant and forced her to have an abortion.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Kaine’s office for comment, but did not immediately hear back.
Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report
