Hegseth clears Senate hurdle and advances to a final confirmation vote

Pete Hegseth has cleared a major procedural hurdle on Thursday, advancing his confirmation to lead the Defense Department to a final Senate vote. The motion to invoke cloture passed 51-49, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown. While Republican Sen. Susan Collins voted against advancing Hegseth’s confirmation, Sen. Mitch McConnell voted in favor.

However, Hegseth’s nomination faced challenges this week when reports surfaced about allegations of abuse from his ex-sister-in-law. Two sources told CNN that Hegseth’s ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth, provided a statement to the FBI regarding his alleged alcohol use, with one source claiming that she said, “He drinks more often than he doesn’t.”

Fox News obtained an affidavit from Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, which accused him of having an alcohol abuse problem and at times making his ex-wife fear for her safety. Despite this, Danielle Hegseth clarified that she never witnessed any abuse herself, physical or sexual, by Pete against Samantha. Samantha Hegseth also denied any physical abuse in a statement to NBC News.

Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker defended Hegseth’s nomination, stating that reports about the FBI background investigation were inaccurate. He emphasized that the process used to vet presidential personnel should not be litigated in the press by anonymous sources with ulterior motives.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guardsman, is expected to face a tough confirmation fight, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging Republicans to oppose his nomination. Despite his admission of being a “serial cheater” before becoming a Christian and marrying his current wife, Jenny, Hegseth has emphasized his commitment to fighting “woke” programs in the Pentagon that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Additionally, Hegseth has expressed opposition to women in combat roles and successfully lobbied Trump to pardon service members accused of war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq. With his military background and alignment with Trump’s goals for the department, Hegseth is likely to bring a different perspective to the role of Defense Secretary.

As the Senate prepares for a final vote on Hegseth’s confirmation, the outcome remains uncertain amid the controversy surrounding his nomination. The road ahead for Hegseth promises to be challenging, with his personal character and policy positions under intense scrutiny.