Cornyn warns Hegseth faces 'unpleasant' confirmation hearing

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) says that Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s pick to head the Department of Defense, faces a nasty Senate confirmation hearing that would likely be uglier than the battle over Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.

Cornyn says he plans to vote for Hegseth but warned the embattled nominee may want to think carefully about moving forward with the Senate confirmation process, given the likelihood that Democrats will scrutinize allegations that Hegseth sexually assaulted a woman in 2017 and accusations that he mismanaged two conservative veterans’ groups.

“I just told him and his wife, I said this is going to be a very difficult process on all of you,” Cornyn said.

Cornyn said he’s “been through a lot of Supreme Court nomination fights, including Brett Kavanaugh, and that may pale in comparison to what may be thrown at Pete.”

The bitter fight over Kavanaugh’s nomination rocked the Senate in 2018 after the conservative judge was accused by Christine Blasey Ford of sexually assaulting her at a high-school party decades earlier.

Kavanaugh vigorously denied the allegation.

The Texas senator said Hegseth may want to reconsider his decision to leave his lucrative job as a host at Fox News but expressed his admiration for the nominee wanting to enter public service.

“I’m convinced he’s doing this for the right reasons. He’s giving up a lot of money at Fox to do it so I appreciate his commitment to public service,” he said.

Cornyn repeated his warning during an interview with Newsmax’s “Rob Schmitt Tonight” in which he warned that Hegseth faces “a very unpleasant process for him and his family.”

“It’s important for all of these nominees to come around and answer questions. I told Pete this is gonna be a very unpleasant process for him and his family, having been involved in the Kavanaugh hearings,” he said.

“I know there will be unnamed accusations and some things that are going to be hurtful, not only to him and his family, but he’s ready for that, his wife is ready for that, and I’m confident he will be confirmed,” Cornyn said.

Cornyn, who has known Hegseth for about 12, years, said he plans to vote “yes” and predicted “ultimately he will be confirmed.”

In addition to the sexual assault allegation from 2017, a whistleblower report from his time as president of Concerned Veterans for America accused him of being repeatedly drunk at work events, sexually pursuing female staffers and failing to address a sexual assault charge against another male staff member.

Hegseth, however, received a boost last week from President-elect Trump, who said he would stick with his controversial nominee.

“Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe. He was a great student - Princeton/Harvard educated - with a Military state of mind. He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Topics

Trump administration picks blitzing Capitol Hill ahead of confirmation hearings

Some of President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks are expected back on Capitol Hill Tuesday morning as they are looking to garner more Senate support ahead of their confirmation hearings. CBS ...
CBS News - 1d
Vance: Hegseth will get Senate hearing, won't be abandoned

Vice President-elect JD Vance (R-Ohio) on Friday said he and President-elect Trump are standing by Pete Hegseth, the embattled nominee to lead the Department of Defense, and told reporters he was ...
The Hill - 5d
Trump speaks out on Pete Hegseth as embattled Pentagon pick fights for confirmation

Donald Trump on Friday made his first public comments supporting Pete Hegseth since he began making rounds on Capitol Hill to shore up support amid various allegations.
ABC News - 5d
Hegseth promises to stop drinking if confirmed, GOP senator says

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, remains defiant after new misconduct allegations are causing growing concern among Republican lawmakers.
ABC News - Dec. 4
Hegseth speaks out on Trump's requests, push for confirmation

Pete Hegseth is characterizing allegations around him as distractions as he attempts to gain the support of senators ahead of his confirmation hearing for the secretary of defense post. Politico's ...
CBS News - Dec. 4
Will Hegseth stay in fight for secretary of defense confirmation?

Pete Hegseth is saying President-elect Donald Trump told him to fight out the swirling backlash he is receiving over allegations of his misconduct. CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy ...
CBS News - Dec. 4
What is Hegseth's strategy to win senators over ahead of confirmation hearings?

CBS News' Nikole Killion has asked Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of defense, about the allegations made against him involving sexual and financial misconduct. ...
CBS News - Dec. 3
Trump’s controversial cabinet picks prep for confirmation hearings

President-elect Trump’s controversial cabinet nominees are making the rounds on Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers as their confirmations near. Meanwhile, Trump has announced that his first trip ...
NBC News - Dec. 3