Secretary of Protection nominee Pete Hegseth’s affirmation listening to received heated when Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) challenged him over press reviews that he drank whereas on the job in his earlier employment, costs that Hegseth denied.
“As secretary you will be in charge of maintaining good order and discipline by enforcing the Uniform Code of Military Justice. … I have read multiple reports of your regularly being drunk at work, including by people who worked with you at Fox News,” Hirono mentioned.
“Do you know that being drunk at work is prohibited?” Hirono requested pointedly.
Hegseth vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing them as a media smear.
“Those are multiple false anonymous reports peddled by NBC News that run directly contradictory to the dozens of men and women and Fox News channel…” he responded.
However Hirono minimize him off.
“I’m not hearing an answer to my question,” she mentioned.
Then she pressed him on his promise to Republican senators that he wouldn’t drink if confirmed to guide the Pentagon.
“Absolutely,” Hegseth mentioned.
Hirono then requested if the nominee would resign as secretary of Protection if he resumes ingesting whereas main the Pentagon, arguing it’s a “24/7” job.
Hegseth mentioned he made the dedication on behalf of the servicemembers who could be below his management.
However he didn’t particularly pledge to resign as secretary of Protection if alcohol touches his lips whereas he’s main the nation’s armed forces.
