The Senate Armed Forces Committee held a confirmation hearing Tuesday for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary. The former Fox News host faced harsh questioning from Democrats.
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly pressed Hegseth about accusations of drunken behavior at strip clubs while on official business.
“Now, the behavior I cited, if true, do you think that this behavior of intoxication going into these types of establishments? Women on your staff being so uncomfortable that they have to file these sort of harassment claims — do you think this is appropriate behavior for a leader?” asked Kelly.
Kelly’s questioning comes after accusations of taking staff, including young female staff members, to a strip club while in Louisiana on official business for Concerned Veterans for America.
The organization allegedly reached a financial settlement with a female staffer who claimed to be at a strip club with Hegseth.
Hegeth says he was not involved, and doesn’t know “the nature of how that played out.”
Kelly asked additional yes or no questions to which Hegseth repeatedly answered “anonymous smear” — despite some of the complaints coming from named accusers.
At the end of his questioning, Kelly said he leaves with concerns over Hegseth’s transparency.
“I walked into this hearing this morning concerned that you have not demonstrated adequate leadership in your civilian roles. And this is a dangerous world we are living in. America cannot afford a secretary of defense who is unprepared for that mission,” said Kelly.
-
Without dissent, the state House on Thursday approved legislation that would say that any contract offered to consumers with automatic renewal must also include an ability to cancel – and do so in the same way the person was asked to sign up. -
It’s been nearly three years since Arizona’s state government was rocked by a massive Medicaid fraud scandal that cost an unprecedented $2.5 billion — and left countless Indigenous people without the help they need. -
Christina Corieri of Consilium Consulting and Democratic strategist Tony Cani joined The Show to talk about what the change at the Department of Homeland Security might mean for Arizona, competing plans for increased transparency in state government and more. -
Parents of children with autism rallied at the Arizona Capitol after insurers with the state’s Medicaid program canceled contracts with two large therapy providers. -
Emmanuel Damas, 56, was in the process of seeking asylum after entering the U.S. in 2024 on a humanitarian parole program established under the Biden administration.
