The Senate has voted to confirm Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary. The vote was 50-50, with Republican Senators Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voting against his confirmation. Because it was a tie, Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote, giving Hegseth the majority he needed to be confirmed.
It was only the second time in history that the Vice President had voted to break a tie for a Cabinet nominee. The last time it happened was in 2017, when Vice President Mike Pence broke the tie to confirm Betsy DeVos as the Education Secretary.
The confirmation process for Hegseth was fraught with controversy. Allegations against Hegseth include abusive behavior toward his second wife, public intoxication, and a sexual assault claim, which he has denied. A sworn statement from his former sister-in-law accused him of abusive conduct, but Hegseth’s ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth, denied any physical abuse, complicating the Senate’s ability to verify the claims. Samantha Hegseth is bound by a non-disparagement clause from their divorce settlement, which prevents her from speaking ill of him.
During the confirmation hearing, Senator Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) questioned Hegseth about his past, including infidelity and the sexual assault allegation. Hegseth acknowledged the encounter but insisted it was consensual. He also faced scrutiny for his shifting stance on women in combat roles, which he recently revised after meeting with Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa).
Despite the controversies, most Republicans have dismissed the allegations, citing Samantha Hegseth’s denial of abuse.
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