Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Hegseth said he would “welcome this background check,” adding that his meetings with senators had produced “great feedback and great discussions.”
In addition to his previous comments about women in combat, Hegseth faces a variety of allegations of misconduct, from a sexual assault charge in 2017 – which he has denied and for which no corresponding charges have been filed – to allegations of mismanagement charitable funds and alcohol consumption the job.
The Pentagon opened all combat roles to women in 2016. Previously, women had performed combat missions, including flying aircraft in war zones and other tasks. The move in 2016 allowed qualified women to serve in other combat arms branches such as armor and infantry.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat and Armed Services Committee member who lost her legs while flying a Black Hawk helicopter in Iraq, said Hegseth’s comments about women in combat disqualify him from being defense secretary.
“He is not the right man to lead the Defense Department,” Duckworth said in an interview. “If you look at his statements from a month ago, it shows that. Without women, our military couldn’t go into battle. Period. Without the 225,000 women serving in uniform today, we would not be a combat-ready force.”
Hegseth was among several of the president-elect’s Cabinet members who roamed the halls of Capitol Hill this week in an effort to secure support from senators ahead of confirmation hearings early next year.
On his way to a meeting Wednesday afternoon with Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Hegseth passed his fellow candidate, former congresswoman and Democrat-turned-Republican Tulsi Gabbard, in the hallway.
Gabbard, who was named director of national intelligence, hugged Hegseth and his wife, Jennifer Rauchet, before asking how he was doing.
“Everything’s fine,” replied Hegseth.
Contributor: Tom Vanden Brook
