Sen. Joni Ernst signaled Monday that she plans to do a favor for Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth after several days of silence on her accusations against him.
Ernst, a 54-year-old rape victim, said he had an “encouraging” discussion with the embattled former Fox News host after meeting for the second time in a week. He echoed his frustration with anonymous sources attacking the personal information of cabinet electors. history.
“I appreciate Pete Hegseth's response and respect for the process,” Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. “I will support Pete throughout this process and look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.”
She particularly praised Hegseth for supporting important reforms to the Pentagon that she has called for, including improved financial management and improvements to prevent sexual assault in the military.
“After our encouraging conversations, Pete completed a full audit of the Department of Defense, supporting the role and value of our servicemen and women based on quality and standards, not quotas, and prioritizing and strengthening my mission as a senior official.” “We have committed to electing and working to prevent sexual assault within our ranks,'' she added.
The Department of Defense has failed audits for seven consecutive years.
Ernst and Hegseth are both military veterans. Mr. Ernst had emerged as a leading candidate to become Pentagon chief before Mr. Hegseth was selected by President-elect Donald Trump.
Ernst had faced growing opposition from conservatives after it became clear that he was hesitant about the idea of Hegseth, whom he had known personally for about 10 years.
The pressure campaign included national Trump supporters as well as local officials like Iowa Attorney General Brenna Byrd, who wrote an op-ed on Breitbart calling for Hegseth's confirmation.
“The more we talk, the more I remember that we are two veterans and dedicated to defense,” Hegseth told reporters after a “very good meeting” with Ernst. .
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) called at some point Hegseth said the allegations against him were “alarming” and praised his nominee for Pentagon chief after he had a “positive, thorough, and frank conversation.”
“Everyone in his unit in Afghanistan, including his Afghan partners, had nothing but great things to say about Pete. He is smart, passionate, and loves the men and women in uniform and our country,” Graham said. said.
“I told Pete he should have an opportunity to defend himself and not allow his confirmation hearing to become a three-way circus,” added Graham, who has a history of supporting presidential cabinet picks regardless of party affiliation. mentioned.
Mr. Hegseth has been troubled by revelations that he paid an undisclosed amount to a woman who accused him of rape at a California Republican Women's Conference in 2017.
The 44-year-old has steadfastly denied the accusations, with his lawyer Timothy Parlatore stressing that no charges had been brought against Hegseth after the police were notified. Additionally, Parlatore has threatened to sue the woman in question if the defense's proposal goes viral.
There are several other accusations against Hegseth, who co-hosted “Fox & Friends” on weekends from 2017 to 2024, including that he struggled with alcohol. Included.
Although none of these accusers have been named, former colleagues of Mr. Hegseth have come to his defense and publicly denied the charges against him.
Hegseth is He also admitted to cheating on his wife..
Given the slim 53-47 Republican majority in the Senate, Mr. Hegseth would only lose at most four Republican votes.
He is scheduled to meet later this week with Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), moderate Republicans who have previously expressed a willingness to break from party lines. is.
So far, Ernst has been the most prominent senator concerned about Hegseth. The senator has publicly claimed that she was raped by her boyfriend and physically assaulted by her ex-husband when she was in college.
She has previously addressed accusations against appointees, including Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, whom she voted to uphold.
