Hegseth's Strategy: Deny, Blame, and Shrug
A Republican senator raised the question, “How many senators have shown up drunk to vote at night?” in a discussion supporting the nomination of the Pentagon chief.
TroibNews 
At his confirmation hearing on Tuesday for the role of Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth employed a strategy characterized by denials, selective memory, and attacks on the “left-wing” media to address various controversies from his past. This approach could prove effective for him, following in the footsteps of other troubled nominees put forward by Donald Trump.
While facing scrutiny over his history—including potential illegal orders from Trump and allegations of financial mismanagement—Hegseth dismissed unwanted questions. He claimed that mainstream media outlets were responsible for bringing to light accusations of sexual assault and excessive drinking. Furthermore, he walked back earlier comments regarding women in combat and gay individuals in the military.
“All anonymous, all false,” Hegseth responded to Senator Mark Kelly when questioned about his past drinking and allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women.
This was just the first of several confirmation hearings for controversial nominees, including Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services chief, and Kash Patel for head of the FBI. Hegseth’s approach on Tuesday may provide a roadmap for how these nominees can navigate their confirmations.
Armed with information from Hegseth’s own writings and prior statements, as well as accusations from former colleagues regarding financial mismanagement and a settlement related to a sexual assault claim in 2017, Democrats entered the hearing with significant material to challenge him.
However, the impact of these allegations remained uncertain. To block Hegseth's confirmation, Democrats would need at least one Republican vote, and GOP committee members appeared united in their backing.
Hegseth, who sometimes interrupted Democratic senators, denied the allegations and expressed ignorance regarding any nondisclosure agreements with the woman who accused him of assault. He pointed the finger at the news media instead.
“Our left-wing media in America today, sadly, doesn’t care about the truth,” he stated. “All they were out to do was to destroy me because I’m a change agent and a threat to them. Despite the attacks, I stand committed to the truth and our warfighters.”
The Fox News host and Army veteran claimed he was unaware of any nondisclosure agreements with his two ex-wives and chose not to respond to questions from Senator Tammy Duckworth about financial audits of the veteran organizations he previously managed, despite advocating for a thorough audit of the Pentagon.
Kelly accused him of insincerity: “You say you had issues in your past but it’s clear to me you're not being honest with us or the American people.”
Despite the barrage of accusations, Hegseth maintained his composure, even as lawmakers recounted details of his extramarital affairs.
While he and his legal team asserted that the 2017 hotel encounter was consensual, he refrained from making that claim during questioning by Senator Tim Kaine. “I was falsely charged, fully investigated and completely cleared,” he declared.
At times, Hegseth appeared somewhat remorseful, stating, “I have failed at things in my life," and he emphasized his belief that he had been redeemed through his faith.
Republicans quickly rallied to defend him, with Senator Markwayne Mullin, a close ally of Trump, flipping the narrative onto Democrats, accusing them of hypocrisy. “How many senators have shown up drunk to vote at night?” Mullin queried. “Have any of you guys asked them to step down and resign from their job?”
Democrats were particularly focused on Hegseth's past statements against women serving in the military. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand asserted, “You have to change how you see women to do this job well, and I don’t know that you can.”
Although Hegseth has previously opposed women in combat roles in interviews and writings, he offered a contrite adjustment on Tuesday, asserting his support for women in military service while stressing that standards for recruits should not be lowered. “Writing a book is different than being secretary of Defense,” he remarked.
Nonetheless, the strategy was not entirely foolproof. As the hearing extended into its third hour, Democrats managed to deliver pointed critiques. Kaine confronted Hegseth about the 2017 incident, questioning whether it was possible for him to cheat while his current wife had just given birth to their child. Hegseth maintained he had been falsely accused and cleared of the investigation.
“Can you so casually cheat on a second wife and cheat on the mother of a child who had been born two months before, and you tell us you were ‘completely cleared?’” Kaine challenged.
Hegseth replied, “I sit here before you, an open book.”
Kaine retorted, “With multiple nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements tying the hands of many people who would like to comment to us.”
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
While facing scrutiny over his history—including potential illegal orders from Trump and allegations of financial mismanagement—Hegseth dismissed unwanted questions. He claimed that mainstream media outlets were responsible for bringing to light accusations of sexual assault and excessive drinking. Furthermore, he walked back earlier comments regarding women in combat and gay individuals in the military.
“All anonymous, all false,” Hegseth responded to Senator Mark Kelly when questioned about his past drinking and allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women.
This was just the first of several confirmation hearings for controversial nominees, including Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services chief, and Kash Patel for head of the FBI. Hegseth’s approach on Tuesday may provide a roadmap for how these nominees can navigate their confirmations.
Armed with information from Hegseth’s own writings and prior statements, as well as accusations from former colleagues regarding financial mismanagement and a settlement related to a sexual assault claim in 2017, Democrats entered the hearing with significant material to challenge him.
However, the impact of these allegations remained uncertain. To block Hegseth's confirmation, Democrats would need at least one Republican vote, and GOP committee members appeared united in their backing.
Hegseth, who sometimes interrupted Democratic senators, denied the allegations and expressed ignorance regarding any nondisclosure agreements with the woman who accused him of assault. He pointed the finger at the news media instead.
“Our left-wing media in America today, sadly, doesn’t care about the truth,” he stated. “All they were out to do was to destroy me because I’m a change agent and a threat to them. Despite the attacks, I stand committed to the truth and our warfighters.”
The Fox News host and Army veteran claimed he was unaware of any nondisclosure agreements with his two ex-wives and chose not to respond to questions from Senator Tammy Duckworth about financial audits of the veteran organizations he previously managed, despite advocating for a thorough audit of the Pentagon.
Kelly accused him of insincerity: “You say you had issues in your past but it’s clear to me you're not being honest with us or the American people.”
Despite the barrage of accusations, Hegseth maintained his composure, even as lawmakers recounted details of his extramarital affairs.
While he and his legal team asserted that the 2017 hotel encounter was consensual, he refrained from making that claim during questioning by Senator Tim Kaine. “I was falsely charged, fully investigated and completely cleared,” he declared.
At times, Hegseth appeared somewhat remorseful, stating, “I have failed at things in my life," and he emphasized his belief that he had been redeemed through his faith.
Republicans quickly rallied to defend him, with Senator Markwayne Mullin, a close ally of Trump, flipping the narrative onto Democrats, accusing them of hypocrisy. “How many senators have shown up drunk to vote at night?” Mullin queried. “Have any of you guys asked them to step down and resign from their job?”
Democrats were particularly focused on Hegseth's past statements against women serving in the military. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand asserted, “You have to change how you see women to do this job well, and I don’t know that you can.”
Although Hegseth has previously opposed women in combat roles in interviews and writings, he offered a contrite adjustment on Tuesday, asserting his support for women in military service while stressing that standards for recruits should not be lowered. “Writing a book is different than being secretary of Defense,” he remarked.
Nonetheless, the strategy was not entirely foolproof. As the hearing extended into its third hour, Democrats managed to deliver pointed critiques. Kaine confronted Hegseth about the 2017 incident, questioning whether it was possible for him to cheat while his current wife had just given birth to their child. Hegseth maintained he had been falsely accused and cleared of the investigation.
“Can you so casually cheat on a second wife and cheat on the mother of a child who had been born two months before, and you tell us you were ‘completely cleared?’” Kaine challenged.
Hegseth replied, “I sit here before you, an open book.”
Kaine retorted, “With multiple nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements tying the hands of many people who would like to comment to us.”
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
