According to a new report, a prominent Republican has assured President-elect Donald Trump that his controversial selection for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has the necessary support from the Republican Party to be confirmed by the Senate.
According to CBS News, Senate Majority Leader John Thune informed Trump that the former Fox News anchor possesses the necessary number of votes to survive the confirmation process, citing three sources as evidence.
“I think these are nominees who are new enough, they’ve been going around and conducting their meetings, which I think, frankly, have gone very well, but they still have to make their case in front of the committee. And, you know, we don’t know all the information about some of these nominees.” Thune recently told Margaret Brennan during a new interview.
The 44-year-old’s nomination for the position in Washington elicited curiosity; however, he has persevered in the face of criticism in anticipation of his upcoming questioning by legislators on January 14.
The appointment of Hegseth is under scrutiny due to allegations of sexual misconduct against the former marine by an anonymous woman. The unnamed woman in question has accused him of sexual assault in a hotel room in California in 2017.
Following an investigation, prosecutors declined to pursue charges against the Fox News star, and Hegseth and his attorneys have maintained that the encounter was consensual.
In 2020, the accuser threatened to file a lawsuit against Hegseth. Subsequently, they executed a non-disclosure agreement, and Hegseth provided the individual with an unknown amount of financial compensation.
Recently, it was disclosed that he had consented to the release of his accuser from the NDA.
Senate Republicans have cautioned that Hegseth is likely to encounter a barrage of uncomfortable inquiries regarding the sexual misconduct allegations, as well as allegations of financial malfeasance and excessive drinking.
Hegseth has pledged to abstain from alcohol consumption in the event that he is affirmed to serve as the head of the Department of Defense.
Additionally, an advisor to Hegseth has previously stated that he is prepared to engage in discussions with senators regarding any and all allegations against him.
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