By Blessing Nweke
Senate Republicans responded with a range of opinions Thursday to President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth, a Fox News personality accused of sexual assault, to lead the Department of Defense. The controversy followed the release of a 2017 police report detailing an allegation of sexual assault against Hegseth. While some senators defended the nominee, others expressed concern.
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), a member of the Armed Services Committee, acknowledged the severity of the allegation, citing the military’s ongoing issue with sexual assault. However, he refrained from passing judgment, emphasizing that background checks and Senate hearings would allow for further scrutiny. “It’s a pretty big problem,” Cramer said, adding that he would not prejudge Hegseth’s nomination.
Trump’s pick was backed by other Republicans, including Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), who dismissed the sexual assault report as an “unfortunate situation” and lauded Hegseth as “the right man for the job.” Mullin stated that he had reviewed the police report and would push for Hegseth’s confirmation. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) also voiced support, calling the nomination a strong choice to “change Washington.”
On the other hand, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) downplayed the seriousness of the allegations, drawing a comparison to the accusations against President Joe Biden. When asked about the police report, Graham expressed indifference, stating, “I don’t care.”
Hegseth, who has denied the allegations and was not charged, is among several nominees facing sexual misconduct allegations, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former Rep. Matt Gaetz. As the Senate’s vetting process continues, some lawmakers, such as Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), urged patience, calling for nominees to testify before making final judgments.
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