Sen. Joni Ernst signaled Monday that she is warming to Protection Secretary designee Pete Hegseth after days of being reticent over the accusations leveled in opposition to him.
The 54-year-old Ernst, who’s a rape survivor, revealed that she had “encouraging” discussions with the embattled former Fox Information host after their second recognized assembly in every week — and echoed his frustrations with nameless sources attacking the Cupboard choose’s private historical past.
“I respect Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the method,” Ernst (R-Iowa), who sits on the Senate Armed Providers Committee, mentioned in a press release. “I assist Pete by this course of, I stay up for a good listening to based mostly on fact, not nameless sources.”
She particularly recommended Hegseth for backing key Pentagon reforms that she’s been after — together with higher monetary stewardship and enhancements towards stopping sexual assault within the army.
“Following our encouraging conversations, Pete dedicated to finishing a full audit of the Pentagon and choosing a senior official who will uphold the roles and worth of our servicemen and girls — based mostly on high quality and requirements, not quotas — and who will prioritize and strengthen my work to forestall sexual assault throughout the ranks,” she added.
The Pentagon has failed an audit seven years in a row.
Ernst and Hegseth are each Military veterans. Ernst had been floated as a possible contender to be the Pentagon boss previous to Hegseth being tapped as President-elect Donald Trump’s choose.
Ernst had taken warmth from conservatives after it turned clear that she was hesitant about Hegseth, whom she’s recognized personally for a few decade.
The strain marketing campaign included Trump allies on the nationwide stage and even native officers akin to Iowa Lawyer Normal Brenna Chook, who penned an op-ed on Breitbart pushing for Hegseth to get confirmed.
“The extra we speak, the extra we’re reminded that we’re two fight veterans and we’re devoted to protection,” Hegseth advised reporters after what he described as a “superb assembly” with Ernst.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who at one level known as the accusations in opposition to Hegseth “disturbing,” additionally lauded the Pentagon boss designee after what he known as a “constructive, thorough and candid assembly” with him.
“Everybody in his unit in Afghanistan — together with our Afghan companions – had nothing however nice issues to say about Pete. He’s sensible, passionate, and loves our women and men in uniform and our nation,” Graham mentioned.
“I advised Pete that he shall be given the chance to defend himself and that his affirmation listening to shouldn’t be allowed to develop into a three-ring circus,” Graham added, noting his document of backing presidential cupboard picks no matter get together affiliation.
Hegseth has been dogged by revelations that he paid an undisclosed sum of money to a lady in 2017 who accused him of raping her at a California Federation of Republican Girls convention.
The 44-year-old has strenuously denied the accusation and his lawyer Timothy Parlatore has underscored that after a police report was filed, there have been no prices made in opposition to Hegseth. Furthermore, Parlatore has dangled the potential of suing the girl in query if his Protection bid goes up in flames.
There have additionally been a handful of different accusations lodged in opposition to Hegseth, who co-hosted “Fox & Associates” on the weekends from 2017 to 2024, together with that he had struggled with alcohol.
None of these accusers have been named, although an outcry of Hegseth’s former colleagues have rallied to his protection and publicly denied the accusations in opposition to him.
Hegseth has additionally admitted to dishonest on his spouse.
Given the small incoming 53 to 47 Republican majority within the Senate, Hegseth can solely afford to lose 4 GOP votes at most.
Later within the week, he’s anticipated to satisfy with Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), two average Republicans who’ve been prepared to interrupt from get together traces previously.
Up to now, Ernst had been essentially the most distinguished senator to harbor apprehensions about Hegseth. The senator has publicly alleged that she was raped by a boyfriend in faculty and that she was bodily assaulted by her ex-husband.
She has grappled with accusations in opposition to appointees previously, together with Supreme Courtroom Justice Brett Kavanaugh, whom she voted to assist.
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