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Senator-Elect Ruben Gallego Navigates Confirmation Hearing for Pete Hegseth
Senator-elect Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) refrained from committing to a vote regarding President-elect Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News co-host, to lead the Pentagon. On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Gallego stated he would allow Hegseth the chance to clarify his past statements, which have sparked considerable controversy.
During the interview, host Jake Tapper highlighted Hegseth’s previous assertions that women should not participate in combat roles and his call for the dismissal of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for what he described as a “woke” ideology.
Gallego, a veteran who served in Iraq as a Marine, emphasized his commitment to assessing each nomination through the lens of its impact on Arizona’s constituents. “I will evaluate nominees based on their alignment with the Constitution and whether their actions will benefit Arizona, particularly in reducing costs for residents,” he explained.
“I’m not committing to a yes or no vote at this moment,” Gallego continued. “I believe in giving Hegseth the chance to explain his views in line with my constitutional responsibilities, but he must address his controversial remarks from the past.”
Hegseth is among several contentious choices Trump has made for his Cabinet, raising concerns not only about his comments but also regarding an investigation into alleged sexual assault in 2017. The Monterey Police Department confirmed that a case involving an alleged sexual assault was investigated at a residence in October of that year, although specific details regarding charges or the identity of any suspects remain unclear.
Reports have surfaced indicating that Trump’s incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, along with legal advisors, met with Hegseth to discuss the allegations recently. According to sources from Vanity Fair, Hegseth contended that the allegations arose from a consensual interaction.
Hegseth’s military career includes service as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard from 2002 until 2021, during which he completed multiple deployments to notable locations, including Guantánamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Since then, he has established himself as a prominent figure on Fox News, hosting the weekend program “Fox & Friends.”
As the scrutiny surrounding Hegseth intensifies, the forthcoming confirmation hearing is poised to be a critical moment for both his potential leadership at the Pentagon and Senator Gallego’s emerging role in the Senate.
Source
thehill.com