Fox anchor Pete Hegseth during "FOX & Friends" at Fox News Channel Studios on August 9, 2019, in New York City. - Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) – Republican U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, said on Thursday she is not yet ready to back Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense, dimming the confirmation hopes of President-elect Donald Trump’s embattled nominee.
Ernst, a senior Armed Services Committee member, said she had not yet gotten to “yes” on the nomination and wanted more investigation of allegations against him, after a lengthy discussion with Hegseth during their meeting on Wednesday.
“I think you are right,” Ernst said in an interview on Fox News, when asked whether she had got to “yes” yet. “I think for a number of our senators, they want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared. And that’s why we have to have a very thorough vetting process.”
Republicans will hold a 53-47 Senate majority next year, meaning Hegseth could afford to lose the support of just three Republicans and still be confirmed if Democrats unite against him as expected.
Hegsrth described the meeting with Ernst as “excellent,” and took to social media to tout his record, posting on X, “Maybe it’s time for a @SecDef who has … Led in combat. Been on patrol for days. Pulled a trigger.”
The 44 year-old is an Army National Guard veteran who served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and has two Bronze Stars. As Secretary of Defense, he would be in charge of 1.3 million active-duty service members and the nearly 1 million civilians who work for the military.
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