A key senator on the Armed Companies Committee says he’s standing by President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Protection nominee Pete Hegseth, pushing again on these he referred to as “nameless sources with ulterior motives” who’re casting doubt on his character.
Senate Armed Companies Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., in a press release Wednesday criticized current reviews on a confidential briefing on the FBI background investigation of Hegseth as “starkly and factually inaccurate.”
“It’s disturbing {that a} delicate, longstanding course of utilized by committee management to vet presidential personnel is being litigated within the press by nameless sources with ulterior motives,” Wicker stated, including that he’s obtained three separate, detailed briefings on the FBI’s background investigation.
Wicker was responding to a CNN report that cited two sources accustomed to the matter who claimed that Hegseth’s ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth, gave a press release to the FBI about Hegseth’s alleged alcohol use. The outlet stated one of many sources stated Samantha Hegseth instructed the FBI, “He drinks extra usually than he doesn’t.”
HEGSETH LAWYER SLAMS ‘FLAWED AND QUESTIONABLE AFFIDAVIT’ FROM EX-SISTER-IN-LAW
Pete Hegseth, left, President Donald Trump’s option to be Protection Secretary, shakes fingers with Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss. after his Senate Armed Companies Committee affirmation listening to, on the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Picture/Alex Brandon)
Wicker says that he continues to stand by Hegseth.
“After this thorough evaluate, I’m ironclad in my evaluation that the nominee, Mr. Hegseth, is ready to be the subsequent Secretary of Protection, and that the allegations unfairly impugning his character don’t cross scrutiny,” the senator stated.
Pete Hegseth seems on the completion of his affirmation listening to earlier than the Senate Armed Companies Committee on the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Picture/Ben Curtis)
Wicker stated that Hegseth has the arrogance of Trump and the backing of Senate Republicans, and referred to as on the Senate to substantiate the nominee “as quick as doable” throughout this “precarious nationwide safety second.”
‘DESPERATE ATTEMPT’: SENATORS RECEIVE AFFIDAVIT WITH ALLEGATIONS ABOUT HEGSETH’S PREVIOUS MARRIAGE
Hegseth has confronted controversy all through his nomination process.
On Tuesday, Fox Information obtained an affidavit from Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, which alleges he has an alcohol abuse downside and at occasions made his ex-wife, Samantha, worry for her security. Danielle Hegseth was married to Pete Hegseth’s brother. She shouldn’t be the sister of Samantha, Pete Hegseth’s second spouse.
However Danielle Hegseth added that she by no means witnessed any abuse herself, bodily or sexual, from Pete in opposition to Samantha.
Samantha Hegseth has additionally denied any bodily abuse in a press release first reported by NBC Information.
“There was no bodily abuse in my marriage. That is the one additional assertion I’ll make to you. I’ve let you understand that I’m not talking and won’t converse on my marriage to Pete. Please respect this determination,” she reportedly stated.
Fox Information Digital’s Julia Johnson and Fox Information’ Tyler Olson, Kelly Phares and Daniel Scully contributed to this report.
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