Hegseth vigorously denies the allegation and says he’s going to plow through the Senate confirmation process despite warnings from GOP senators that it is likely to get ugly, akin to Brett Kavanaugh’s brutal Supreme Court confirmation fight of 2018.
“I told him it’s going to be a miserable experience, sort of like Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said. The battle grew so fierce that Capitol police arrested dozens of protesters in the Senate office buildings and had to escort key senators as they walked through the halls.
Cornyn says senators are “open” to confirming Hegseth, but they want to go through the confirmation process and will be looking for “new information” that may shed light on his fitness to lead the Pentagon.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said he fears the battle over Hegseth’s nomination could be worse than the brawl that erupted over Kavanaugh years ago.
“Everything is going to be elevated. I think it’s going to be Kavanaugh on steroids,” said Tillis.
Much hinges on whether Hegseth’s accuser would be willing to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee, something that would be a crucial development, according to senators.
Already, two key GOP lawmakers — Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Joni Ernst (Iowa) — say they will not vote against Hegseth based on anonymous allegations.
Hegseth resumed meetings with senators Tuesday afternoon.
A Hegseth adviser said the nominee is willing to discuss any allegations that senators would want to ask him about during the confirmation process.
Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said the decision of whether Hegseth’s accuser should testify will be left to the Armed Services Committee.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the incoming chair of the Armed Services Committee, said he doesn’t know whether Hegseth’s accuser will testify.
“I don’t know that she will. I guess it depends on what she has to say,” he said.
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
