Republicans are rallying around Hegseth, Trump's pick for the Pentagon

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump's allies on Capitol Hill rallied Thursday around Pete Hegseth, Trump's Pentagon favorite, at the same time as recent details emerged about allegations that he sexually assaulted a girl in 2017.

The GOP endorsement of Hegseth got here as one other controversial Trump nominee, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his candidacy for attorney general. Gaetz said it was clear he had change into a “distraction” because the House of Representatives was pressured to release an ethics report into allegations of his own sexual misconduct. A lawyer for 2 women said his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz had paid them for sex multiple times since 2017, when Gaetz was a congressman in Florida.

New questions on the 2 candidates' pasts and their treatment of ladies emerged as Republicans got here under pressure from Trump and his allies to quickly confirm his Cabinet. At the identical time, his transition has to date failed because of the traditionally required vetting and background checks.

While few Republican senators have publicly criticized any of Trump's nominees, it became clear after Gaetz's withdrawal that many had private concerns about him. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served within the House with Gaetz, said it was a “positive step.” Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker said it was a “positive development.” Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put the country first and I am pleased with his decision.”

However, after meeting with Hegseth, Republicans rallied around him. “I think he'll be in pretty good shape,” said Wicker, who is predicted to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee in the following Congress.

Republican senators' cautious words and their initial reluctance to publicly query Trump's decisions highlighted not only their fear of retaliation from the brand new president, but additionally a few of their hopes that the confirmation process can proceed normally, with proper vetting and background checks, which could disqualify problematic candidates sooner. Gaetz withdrew after meeting with senators on Wednesday.

Senator Thom Tillis said Gaetz was “in a pressure pot” when he decided to withdraw, but suggested it might have little impact on Trump's other nominees. “Transactions – one at a time,” he said.

As Hegseth's nomination moves forward, Republicans also seem like betting that they won't face much backlash in the event that they publicly deny the allegations of sexual misconduct – especially after Trump won the election after being found guilty of sexual abuse last 12 months had been.

Hegseth held a series of personal meetings with recent Vice President JD Vance on Thursday to shore up support, telling reporters afterward: “The matter has been fully investigated and I've been fully cleared, and I'll leave it at that.”

A 22-page police report released late Wednesday provided the primary detailed account of the allegations against him. A lady told police that she was sexually assaulted by Hegseth in 2017 after he took her phone, blocked the door to a hotel room in California and refused to permit her to go away. The report cited police interviews with the alleged victim, a nurse who treated her, a hotel worker, one other woman on the event and Hegseth.

Hegseth's attorney, Timothy Palatore, said the incident was “fully investigated and police have determined the allegations are false.” Hegseth paid the lady in 2023 as a part of a confidential settlement to avert the specter of what he called a baseless lawsuit, Palatore said.

Wicker downplayed the allegations against Hegseth, a former Fox News host, saying, “Since no charges have been filed by authorities, all we have are press reports.”

Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said after his meeting with Hegseth that he shared with him “the fact that I was saddened by the attacks coming his way.”

Hagerty dismissed the allegations as “a he said, she said thing” and called it a “disgrace” that they were even made.

The senator said attention should as a substitute deal with the Defense Department, which Hegseth would lead. It is one of the complex parts of the federal government, with greater than 3 million employees, including military personnel and civilians. Sexual assault is a persistent problem within the military, although Pentagon officials are cautiously optimistic that they may see a decline in reported sexual assaults amongst active-duty military personnel and at military academies.

Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who shall be the No. 2 Republican within the Senate next 12 months, said after his meeting with Hegseth that the candidate was a robust candidate who “promised that the Pentagon will deal with strength and hard power – “Not on the current.” The government’s woke political agenda.”

Senate Republicans are under pressure to carry hearings as soon as they take office in January and to substantiate nominees once Trump is inaugurated, although there are doubts about whether Trump's decisions shall be properly scrutinized or whether some, like Hegseth, have enough experience for the job.

Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, who shall be the highest Democrat on the panel next 12 months, said the reports about Hegseth “highlighted the need for a thorough investigation by the FBI in light of all nominees.”

A straightforward majority is required to approve Cabinet nominations. This implies that if all Democrats were against a candidate, 4 Republican senators would also should resign for a Trump decision to be rejected. Trump has made it clear that he’s willing to place maximum pressure on Senate Republicans to provide him the nominees he wants — and even suggested at one point that they might allow him to easily approve his nominees without Senate votes appoint.

But senators insist, for now, that they usually are not giving up their constitutional say.

“The president has the right to make the nominations he sees fit, but the Senate also has the responsibility to advise and consent,” said Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota. In Gaetz's case, he said, “I think advice was given rather than consent.”