U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) is standing behind President-elect Donald Trump's pick as Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, despite growing dissent among Senate Republicans over a series of sexual misconduct allegations that have resurfaced.
Initial reactions to Hegseth's nomination were centered around his perceived lack of qualifications for the job. However, in recent weeks, the conversation has dealt with accusations of drunkenness and sexual misconduct.
One charge came in 2017 after a woman accused Hegseth of sexually assaulting her at a Republican Women's convention. The woman filed a police report, which was made public last month. However, no charges were ever filed, and the pair reached a settlement agreement.
A story this week in the New Yorker detailed alleged testimony from unnamed former employees of Concerned Veterans for America, where Hegseth served as president from 2013 to 2016. The report lists accusations of repeated drunkenness on Hegseth's part. Other anonymous sources claimed Hegseth left the organization due to concerns about financial mismanagement, sexual misconduct and his drinking.
Hegseth's attorney lambasted the New Yorker, saying the accusations came from a "petty and jealous disgruntled former associate of Mr. Hegseth's." The attorney also took a jab at the New Yorker, saying, "Get back to us when you try your first attempt at actual journalism."
While some have expressed concerns over the accusations, others have dismissed them as anonymous rumors designed to smear Hegseth's reputation ahead of his Senate confirmation.
On Tuesday, Tuberville told reporters he was uninterested in the ongoing rumor mill, offering a breakdown of Hegseth's resume and the positive impact he will have on the Department of Defense.
"Earlier this week, I sat down with Pete Hegseth, President Trump's nominee to serve [as the] U.S. Secretary of Defense," Tuberville said. "He and I talked about his vision for the Pentagon and his mission to help President Trump restore peace through strength. I am more convinced than ever that Pete is the perfect change agent to shake up the Pentagon. I'm not in the business of rumors; I'm in the business of facts."
"The facts are that Pete Hegseth is an Ivy League educated businessman who dedicated his life, 20 years, to serving our country," he added. "He bravely served two combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and earned two bronze stars. Too often, the people in charge of the Pentagon are bureaucrats that are captured by the military-industrial machine. Pete served on the front lines at fight-level, not at headquarters hundreds of miles away. He was in the fight."
Tuberville continued, "He will bring [a] fresh, new perspective and become someone a lot of the service men and women can relate to because of age. As a coach, I know that winning requires teamwork. Our military needs to be unified and mission-focused, not distracted by the social fad of the day. Our men and women in uniform must be respected and understood by their leaders. Pete will inspire a new wave of young people to sign up to serve in the military, and I look forward to confirming Pete; he is just what the Pentagon needs to move us forward."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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