Republican Senator Joni Ernst has signaled a willingness to support Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the defense department, despite allegations of sexual assault and financial mismanagement. The nomination’s fate is seen as resting with Ernst, an army veteran and survivor of sexual assault. After initially expressing hesitation towards supporting Hegseth, Ernst issued a statement indicating her support following a meeting with him on Monday. Hegseth has stated that he has no intention of withdrawing his candidacy, with both Trump and JD Vance voicing support.
Meanwhile, former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, nominated by Trump for director of national intelligence, is set to meet with members of the Senate intelligence committee for her confirmation hearing. Gabbard’s connections to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad have raised concerns among national security experts, as she has failed to condemn Assad’s atrocities in the past.
In another development, Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace, who proposed a bill to restrict the bathroom use of the first openly transgender member of Congress, Sarah McBride, was physically assaulted on Capitol Hill. Mace’s proposed bill has been criticized for targeting McBride, who will be sworn in next month.
Several Republican senators, including John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, have expressed support for Hegseth’s nomination to lead the defense department. However, experts warn that confirming Hegseth could worsen the issue of extremism in the US military due to his far-right political views. Allies of Trump have pressured skeptical Republican senators to support controversial cabinet picks like Hegseth.
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