Pete Hegseth Can’t Say If Sexual Assault Is ‘Disqualifying’ To Be Defense Secretary | EUROtoday

Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.

WASHINGTON — Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) on Tuesday pressed Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s protection secretary nominee, on whether or not he believes it ought to be disqualifying to be protection secretary if somebody has dedicated sexual assault — difficult Hegseth’s claims that he’d been “completely cleared” of any wrongdoing amid the allegations he’s confronted of sexual assault and infidelity.

Kaine grilled Hegseth concerning the October 2017 incident in Monterrey, California, involving a girl who accused Hegseth of sexually assaulting her and stopping her from leaving his lodge room. Hegseth has stated the encounter was consensual and that he was by no means charged with against the law. Details are murky, although, as he entered right into a nondisclosure settlement with the girl in 2020.

During Tuesday’s high-stakes listening to, Kaine famous Hegseth was nonetheless married to his then-second spouse on the time of the alleged sexual assault and had simply fathered a toddler by a girl who would later turn out to be his third spouse.

“I was falsely charged,” Hegseth stated. “Fully investigated and completely cleared.”

“So you think you were completely cleared because you committed no crime? That’s your definition of completely cleared?” the Virginia senator replied. “You had just fathered a child two months before by a woman that was not your wife. I am shocked that you would stand here and say you’re completely cleared. Can you so casually cheat on a second wife and cheat on the mother of a child that had been born two months before?”

As Hegseth started speaking about being “redeemed by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Kaine famous the protection secretary nominee had admitted to that infidelity earlier than citing the sexual assault allegations towards him.

“Now, if it had been a sexual assault, that would be disqualifying to be secretary of defense, wouldn’t it?” Kaine requested.

Hegseth didn’t reply the query immediately, as a substitute couching his response in regard to the allegations towards him particularly. “It’s a false claim then and a false claim now,” he replied. Kaine repeated his query, however Hegseth once more known as it a “false claim” and “a hypothetical.” The senator nonetheless didn’t let up.

“So you can’t tell me whether someone who has committed a sexual assault is disqualified from being secretary of defense?” Kaine stated.

“Senator, I know in my instance, and I’m talking about my instance only, it was a false claim,” Hegseth stated sternly.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) grilled defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth during his confirmation hearing.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) grilled protection secretary nominee Pete Hegseth throughout his affirmation listening to.

The Virginia Democrat later requested Hegseth if he had nondisclosure agreements in connection together with his first two divorces and whether or not he would conform to launch his former wives from these agreements to talk brazenly about their marriages to him. Hegseth stated he wasn’t conscious of such agreements, however Kaine urged he had one thing to cover.

“Did you ever engage in any acts of physical violence against any of your wives?” Kaine stated.

“Senator, absolutely not,” Hegseth replied.

“But you would agree with me that if someone had committed physical violence against a spouse, that would be disqualifying to serve as secretary of defense, correct?” Kaine stated.

“Senator, absolutely not have I ever done that,” Hegseth stated, calling the query a “hypothetical.”

Kaine went on to carry up allegations about Hegseth displaying up drunk at work when he labored at a nonprofit veteran group and at Fox News. (Trump’s transition workforce has beforehand known as these allegations “completely unfounded and false.”)

“You would agree with me, right, that if that was the case, that would be disqualifying for somebody to be secretary of defense?” Kaine requested.

“Senator, those are all anonymous, false claims,” Hegseth stated earlier than Kaine interjected.

“They’re not anonymous,” Kaine stated. “One of your colleagues said that you got drunk at an event at a bar and chanted, ‘Kill all Muslims.’ Not anonymous, we have this.”

The Countdown To Trump Is On

On Jan. 20, Donald Trump will reclaim probably the most highly effective seat in our nation’s authorities. HuffPost will proceed to fearlessly report on the brand new administration — however we want your assist.

We imagine important data throughout this unprecedented time ought to be free for everybody. With your assist, we are able to present essential information with out paywalls.

You’ve supported HuffPost earlier than, and we’ll be sincere — we might use your assist once more. We view our mission to supply free, truthful information as critically necessary on this essential second, and we won’t do it with out you.

Whether you give as soon as or many extra instances, we respect your contribution to preserving our journalism free for all.

You’ve supported HuffPost earlier than, and we’ll be sincere — we might use your assist once more. We view our mission to supply free, truthful information as critically necessary on this essential second, and we won’t do it with out you.

Whether you give only one extra time or enroll once more to contribute repeatedly, we respect you taking part in a component in preserving our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

“Isn’t that the kind of behavior that, if true, would be disqualifying for somebody to be secretary of defense?” the senator added.

“Senator, anonymous, false charges,” Hegseth stated flatly.

“They’re not anonymous,” Kaine replied earlier than wrapping up his remarks.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tim-kaine-pete-hegseth-sexual-assault_n_67867b26e4b09287938bb6e7