WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary is expected to face his first public questioning by U.S. senators on Jan. 14.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., told reporters Wednesday that the committee plans to hold Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing in mid-January as the former Fox News host and veteran leaves the Senate offices has visited in an attempt to rally Republicans around him. . Some senators have questioned his suitability for the role amid allegations of excessive alcohol consumption and sexual misconduct.
Hegseth has told senators he would not drink while secretary of defense and has pushed back on reports of misconduct, and Trump has publicly promoted his nomination, posting on his social media platform last week that “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Hegseth also attended the Army-Navy football game this weekend with the president-elect.
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More confirmation hearings are expected after the new Republican Senate is sworn in on January 3 and Trump is inaugurated on January 20. John Thune, the new Senate Majority Leader, has said he wants to confirm Trump’s Cabinet as quickly as possible once Trump is in power.
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