Hegseth being replaced? Allegations, reactions, confirmation chances

[KARAH RUCKER]

TRUMP’S PICK FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE “PETE HEGSETH” HAS SEEN A FAIR SHARE OF ALLEGATIONS FLOOD MEDIA HEADLINES SINCE HIS NOMINATION.

FROM “A POLICE REPORT DETAILING A SEXUAL ASSAULT CLAIM” AGAINST HEGSETH –

TO HIS MOTHER “ACCUSING HER SON OF MISTREATING WOMEN FOR YEARS.”

THE NEW YORKER DETAILING FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT ALLEGATIONS IN ITS PIECE TITLED “PETE HEGSETH’S SECRET HISTORY.”

TO THE LATEST ALLEGATIONS OF “HEGSETH’S DRINKING WORRIED COLLEAGUES AT FOX NEWS.”

NOW –

THERE ARE REPORTS TRUMP COULD TAP FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS TO REPLACE HEGSETH AS HIS PICK FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE –

IF HEGSETH CAN’T GARNER ENOUGH SENATE VOTES FOR CONFIRMATION.

THATS ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE NEWS OUTLETS CITING ANONYMOUS SOURCES FAMILIAR WITH THE TALKS.

BUT AS OF WEDNESDAY MORNING –

HEGSETH SAYS HE IS STILL THE GUY TO LEAD THE NATION’S MILITARY –

AND THAT TRUMP STILL THINKS SO TOO.

I spoke to the President-elect this morning. He said keep going, keep fighting…

Why would I back down? I’ve always been a fighter. I’m here for the warfighters. This is personal & passionate for me.”

HEGSETH AND HIS SUPPORTERS HAVE DENIED ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM – AND DEFENDED HIS PLACE TO TAKE A LEADING ROLE IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

HEGSETH POSTING ON X –

“”THE LEFT IS AFRAID OF TRUMP AND ME. SO THEY SMEAR WITH FAKE, ANONYMOUS SOURCES AND BS STORIES. THEY DON’T WANT TRUTH.”

HEGSETH REMAINED ON THE DEFENSE WEDNESDAY FOLLOWING THE LATEST ACCUSATIONS OF A DRINKING PROBLEM.

NBC CITING 10 ANONYMOUS FOX EMPLOYEES.

REPORTING – Two of those people said that on more than a dozen occasions during Hegseth’s time as a co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend,” which began in 2017, they smelled alcohol on him before he went on air. Those same two people, plus another, said that during his time there he appeared on television after they’d heard him talk about being hungover as he was getting ready or on set. 

A SLEW OF FORMER AND CURRENT EMPLOYEES OF FOX NEWS –

SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE REPORT ON X.

CALLING IT “A FALSE SMEAR” “WRONG” AND “MALICIOUS”.

IT’S NOT ONLY FOX COLLEAGUES SPEAKING OUT.

HEGSETH’S MOTHER JOINED FOX NEWS WEDNESDAY AFTER AN EMAIL SHE SENT TO HER SON IN 2018 WAS OBTAINED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES.

THE TIMES REPORTED THE MOTHER OF PETE HEGSETH “wrote: “I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around and uses women for his own power and ego. You are that man (and have been for years) and as your mother, it pains me and embarrasses me to say that, but it is the sad, sad truth.” Mrs. Hegseth, in a phone interview with The New York Times on Friday, said that she had sent her son an immediate follow-up email at the time apologizing for what she had written. She said she had fired off the original email “in anger, with emotion” at a time when he and his wife were going through a very difficult divorce.

“I want people to look at pete, judge people, or understand him for who he is today and to disregard the media, that was 7 years ago, and most of it is misinformation.”

HEGSETH’S FUTURE AS A POTENTIAL CABINET MEMBER –

IS IN THE HANDS OF SENATORS.

REPUBLICANS DO HAVE THE MAJORITY –

BUT IF NO DEMOCRAT VOTES TO CONFIRM HEGSETH –

THEN HE CAN ONLY AFFORD TO LOSE THE SUPPORT OF THREE SENATE REPUBLICANS.

WHILE SOME – ARE PUBLICLY BACKING HEGSETH –

OTHERS ARE CASTING PUBLIC DOUBTS.

LIKE SENATOR LINDSAY GRAHAM SPEAKING TO CBS NEWS.

“Some of these articles are very disturbing, he has a chance to defend himself here, but some of this stuff is gonna be difficult, time will tell. I like pete, i’ve known him for a long time.”

“Is it potential trouble?”

“Some of the things have to be addressed and we’ll see.”

CBS REPORTER SCOTT MACFARLANE ALSO SPOKE WITH SENATOR RICHARD BLUMENTHAL ABOUT WHAT HE’S HEARING ABOUT THE CONFIRMATION OF HEGSETH –

WHO SAID “I’d be surprised if we’re still talking about Pete Hegseth on Monday”

Blumenthal said there are 5–to-10 needed votes that Hegseth is lacking.

THANKS FOR WATCHING OUR NEWS UPDATE.

WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS STORY –

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