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.
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