First got here Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. Then Kirsten Gillibrand from New York, Mazie Hirono from Hawaii, Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts and Tammy Duckworth from Illinois.
A number of the fiercest questions throughout Pete Hegseth’s extremely contentious Senate affirmation listening to got here from feminine Democratic senators. They accused him of disparaging feminine members of the navy, failing to fulfill essentially the most primary requirements of a protection secretary and refusing to reply their questions.
They targeted closely on Mr. Hegseth’s earlier statements that girls mustn’t have fight roles within the navy, questioning whether or not he had modified his view solely as a result of President-elect Donald J. Trump selected him to steer the Pentagon.
Mr. Hegseth appeared reasonably unfazed, insisting that he has by no means disparaged girls serving within the armed forces and that he has the mandatory {qualifications} for the job.
“Sure, girls may have entry to floor fight roles, provided that requirements stay excessive, and we are going to perform a evaluation to make sure that requirements haven’t been eroded,” he advised a given second.
Ms Warren mentioned he had modified his place on the difficulty in simply 32 days. “I’ve heard of deathbed conversions, however that is the primary time I’ve heard of a nomination conversion,” she mentioned.
Ms. Gillibrand, who typically raised her voice, requested him, “Please clarify a lot of these statements as a result of they’re brutal and imply and so they disrespect the women and men who’re prepared to die for this nation.”
Ms. Shaheen, who spoke firmly however extra gently than Ms. Gillibrand, requested whether or not girls would have a good likelihood at promotion if he led the Pentagon, given his earlier ideas that they might make the navy a much less deadly pressure.
Sen. Hirono mentioned she has observed “a disturbing pattern” of “inflammatory statements” not solely about girls in fight, but additionally about LGBTQ service members, asking, “If that is confirmed, will you decide to defending, not denigrate our troops?
She additionally tried to pressure him to vow that he would resign if he broke his promise to by no means drink alcohol if confirmed as Secretary of Protection. Mr. Hegseth mentioned solely that he had pledged to not drink.
He was questioned extra amicably by Sen. Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa, who retired as a lieutenant colonel within the Iowa Military Nationwide Guard.
Ms. Ernst used her time to make him publicly repeat guarantees she had made to him privately: assist the position of women and men within the navy supplied they meet sure requirements, appoint a senior officer to strengthen his previous. working to stop sexual assault and rape within the navy and conducting an audit of the Pentagon.
Ms. Ernst’s assist is seen as important to Mr. Hegseth’s possibilities of affirmation by the total Senate. However throughout this session, her extra genius strategy contrasted with that of many of the different feminine audio system.
“You aren’t certified, Mr. Hegseth,” mentioned Ms. Duckworth, an Military veteran who misplaced her legs within the Iraq Warfare. “You are asking us to decrease the requirements to make you Secretary of Protection simply since you’re pals with a president-elect. »
