AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a stalwart ally of President-elect Donald Trump, expressed on Tuesday some doubt over Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Defense.
“I think some of these articles are very disturbing,” Graham told CBS News. “He [Hegseth] obviously has a chance to defend himself here, but some of this stuff is it’s going to be difficult…”
Hegseth has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a 2017 incident, though he insists that the encounter was entirely consensual. He paid the woman an undisclosed amount following the accusation.
“I like Pete,” continued Graham before arguing that “what we want to do is make sure that we have good order and discipline.”
“Leadership comes at the top. And I want to make sure that every young woman who joins military feels respected,” he added.
In addition to the allegations of criminal sexual misconduct, various salacious reports about Hegseth’s marriages, extramarital activities, and drinking habits have cast doubt over his chances of being confirmed.
Trump introduced the longtime Fox News personality as his nominee last month.
“Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down,” wrote Trump in a post on Truth Social. “Pete has been a host at FOX News for eight years, where he used that platform to fight for our Military and Veterans.”
Hegseth is a decorated Army combat veteran who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
After Trump made his announcement, a number of Republican senators were taken aback by the pick. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) wondered aloud who reporters were referring to when they initially asked him about Hegseth, while Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said she was “surprised.”
