WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced Thursday she will vote against confirmation Pete Hegseth to lead the Pentagon, becoming the first Republican to oppose the president’s that of Donald Trump The Cabinet chooses before a crucial test vote.
Alaska’s Murkowski said in a lengthy statement that allegations of excessive alcohol consumption and aggressive actions towards womenwhich Hegseth denied, show that his behaviors “contrast sharply” with what is expected of the US military. She also highlighted her past statements that women should not hold military combat positions.
“I remain concerned about the message Mr. Hegseth’s confirmation sends to women currently serving and those who aspire to join him,” Murkowski wrote on social media.
Murkowski said Hegseth’s admitted behavior, “including being unfaithful on multiple occasions,” shows a lack of judgment. “These behaviors contrast sharply with the values and discipline expected of the military,” she said.
“Above all, I believe that character is the defining trait required for the Secretary of Defense and must be an uncompromising priority,” she said.
Senate Republican leaders rushed to move forward Trump’s The defense secretary is up for confirmation, despite serious objections from Democrats and unease among Republicans over his behavior and qualifications to lead the U.S. military.
It will take a simple majority of senators to advance Hegseth’s confirmation to Thursday’s vote. Most Republicans, who hold a 53-seat majority in the House, have indicated they will support the nominee, although Vice President JD Vance could be called upon to break a tie.
Rarely has a Cabinet pick faced such swirling allegations of wrongdoing. Trump supports Hegseth, and the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee has dismissed the claims as factually inaccurate.
“I am confident that the nominee, Mr. Hegseth, is ready to be the next Secretary of Defense,” the chairman, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in a statement on the eve of the test vote. . “The Senate must confirm this nominee as quickly as possible.”
A new president’s national security nominees are often the first to be confirmed, failing to ensure U.S. security at home and abroad. The Senate has already overwhelmingly confirmed Marco Rubio as Secretary of State unanimously, and he was in the process of confirming John Ratcliffe as CIA director later Thursday.
But Hegseth is in a league of its own amid allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman at a Republican conference in California, which he denied was a consensual encounter, and that he consumed heavy alcohol at events where he led an organization veterans. He also said women should not work in combat roles, a view he has since tempered during his confirmation process.
A a new claim has emerged this week in an affidavit from a former sister-in-law who claimed Hegseth was violent toward his second wife to the point she feared for her safety. Hegseth denied the allegation. During the divorce proceedings, neither Hegseth nor the woman claimed to have been victims of domestic violence.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that Hegseth was not qualified for the job because of his personal behavior, including his drinking, and his lack of experience.
“One of the kindest words that could be used to describe Mr. Hegseth is erratic, and that’s a term you don’t want in the Department of Defense,” Schumer said. “He has an obvious problem with judgment.”
A veteran of Princeton and Harvard, Hegseth went on to a career at Fox News, where he hosted a weekend show. Trump appointed him secretary of defense to lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million military personnel, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of $850 billion.
Hegseth promised not to drink on the job if confirmed.
But senators doubt his experience and abilities, as well as the alleged behavior that could lead to reprimand or dismissal for military personnel, he would now be expected to lead.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, herself a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, signaled her support.
However, several Republican senators, including Murkowski and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, are widely watched for their votes.
During a fiery confirmation Hearing, Hegseth rejected allegations of wrongdoing one by one – calling them “smears” – while flaunting his military credentials and promising to bring “warrior culture” to the Pentagon’s top job.
Wicker said he was informed a third time about the FBI’s investigation into Hegseth. He said “allegations unfairly impugning his character do not pass scrutiny.”
