Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) says Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s choose to go the Division of Protection, faces a nasty Senate affirmation listening to that may possible be uglier than the battle over Supreme Courtroom Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.
Cornyn says he plans to vote for Hegseth however warned the embattled nominee will endure a grueling Senate affirmation course of, given the probability that Democrats will scrutinize allegations that Hegseth sexually assaulted a lady in 2017 and accusations that he mismanaged two conservative veterans’ teams.
“I just told him and his wife, I said, ‘This is going to be a very difficult process on all of you,’” Cornyn stated.
Cornyn stated he’s “been through a lot of Supreme Court nomination fights, including Brett Kavanaugh, and that may pale in comparison to what may be thrown at Pete.”
The bitter struggle over Kavanaugh’s nomination rocked the Senate in 2018 after the conservative choose was accused by Christine Blasey Ford of sexually assaulting her at a highschool social gathering a long time earlier.
Kavanaugh vigorously denied the allegation.
The Texas senator famous that Hegseth is prepared depart his profitable job as a bunch at Fox Information to slog via what may very well be a brutal affirmation course of. He expressed respect for the nominee’s want to enter public service.
“I’m convinced he’s doing this for the right reasons. He’s giving up a lot of money at Fox to do it, so I appreciate his commitment to public service,” he stated.
Cornyn repeated his warning throughout an interview with Newsmax’s “Rob Schmitt Tonight” during which he warned that Hegseth faces “a very unpleasant process for him and his family.”
“It’s important for all of these nominees to come around and answer questions. I told Pete this is going to be a very unpleasant process for him and his family, having been involved in the Kavanaugh hearings,” he stated.
“I know there will be unnamed accusations and some things that are going to be hurtful, not only to him and his family — but he’s ready for that, his wife is ready for that, and I’m confident he will be confirmed,” Cornyn stated.
Cornyn, who has recognized Hegseth for about 12, years, stated he plans to vote “yes” and predicted “ultimately he will be confirmed.”
After a face-to-face assembly with the nominee, Cornyn stated he was “satisfied” with Hegseth’s solutions however once more warned the affirmation course of will probably be “a hard process” on the nominee “and his family.”
“I was satisfied with his answers, and I think this is going to be a hard process on him and his family, and some of it will be enormously unfair, but I respect his willingness to give up a nice, cushy job at Fox in order to serve the nation and the military that he has devoted a large percentage of his life to,” Cornyn informed reporters after the assembly.
Along with the sexual assault allegation from 2017, a whistleblower report from his time as president of Involved Veterans for America accused him of being repeatedly drunk at work occasions, sexually pursuing feminine staffers and failing to handle a sexual assault cost in opposition to one other male workers member.
Hegseth, nevertheless, obtained a lift final week from President-elect Trump, who stated he would stick together with his controversial nominee.
“Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe. He was a great student – Princeton/Harvard educated – with a Military state of mind. He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense,” Trump posted on Reality Social.
