WASHINGTON (AP) — Senator Elizabeth Warren is turning up the heat on Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary, as he prepares for his confirmation hearing next Tuesday. In a letter sent on Monday, the Massachusetts Democrat asked the former Fox News host and Army veteran to respond to some important questions by Friday.
Warren is asking Hegseth to address allegations about his past, including accusations related to drinking, sexual assault, and mishandling finances within veterans’ organizations — all of which he denies. She’s also seeking answers about controversial statements he’s made about minorities, women, and LGBTQ individuals serving in the military.
While Hegseth has support from some veterans’ groups, particularly those who believe the military has focused too much on diversity instead of readiness, not everyone agrees. A group of former Navy SEALs plans to hold a rally in Hegseth’s support next week in Washington.
Bill Brown, a former Navy SEAL organizing the rally, voiced his thoughts: “One of the biggest flaws in military leadership today is focusing on things that don’t matter,” he said. “The military shouldn’t be about social justice. It’s about readiness.”
Hegseth’s supporters have pointed out that many of the allegations come from reports based on anonymous sources. However, some questions stem from statements he’s made in interviews or from his books.
In his book War on Warriors, Hegseth stirred controversy by suggesting that the promotion of Gen. CQ Brown to chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was based on racial factors rather than leadership ability. He wrote, “With the Pentagon now run by leaders like CQ Brown, we can assume that 17 percent of all black officers in the Air Force are simply promoted because of how they look, not how they lead.”
Hegseth has also been vocal in criticizing the role of women in combat, though he later seemed to soften those views during meetings with senators.
Warren has expressed serious concerns about Hegseth’s ability to lead, questioning whether his past actions and rhetoric make him unsuitable for the important role of leading the Department of Defense.
In response, Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the Trump transition team, dismissed Warren’s letter, saying, “This is exactly the kind of politics voters rejected on November 5. Instead of focusing on ‘woke’ policies that weaken our national defense, the American people voted to rebuild the military — and Pete Hegseth is the right person to do that.”
