Republicans rally around Hegseth as Gaetz retreats

While few Republican senators have publicly criticized any of Trump’s nominees, it became clear after Gaetz’s withdrawal that many had private concerns about him. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, said it was a “positive move.” Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker said it was a “positive development.” Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “puts country first and I’m pleased with his decision.”

After the meeting with Hegseth, however, Republicans rallied around him. “I think he’s going to be in pretty good shape,” said Wicker, who is expected to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee in the next Congress.

Republican senators’ guarded words, and their early reluctance to publicly question Trump’s choices, illustrated not only their fear of retribution from the incoming president, but also some of their hope that the confirmation process can proceed normally with proper vetting. and background checks that could eventually. disqualify problem candidates early. Gaetz withdrew after meeting with senators on Wednesday.

Sen. Thom Tillis said Gaetz was “in a pressure cooker” when he decided to withdraw, but suggested it would have little influence on Trump’s other nominees. “Transactions – one at a time,” he said.

As Hegseth’s nomination continues, Republicans also appear to be betting they won’t face much backlash for publicly dropping allegations of sexual misconduct — especially after Trump won the election after being found guilty of abuse sexually last year.

Hegseth held a round of private meetings with First Vice President JD Vance on Thursday in an attempt to drum up support, and told reporters afterward: “The matter has been fully investigated and I’ve been fully cleared and that’s where I’ll leave it.”

A 22-page police report made public late Wednesday provided the first detailed account of the allegations against him. A woman told police she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. The report cited police interviews with the alleged victim, a nurse who treated her, a hotel employee, another woman at the event and Hegseth.

Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Palatore, said the incident was “fully investigated and police found the allegations to be false.” Hegseth paid the woman in 2023 as part of a confidentiality agreement to avoid the threat of what he described as a frivolous lawsuit, Palatore said.

Wicker downplayed the allegations against Hegseth, a former Fox News host, saying “since no charges have been brought by the authorities, we only have media reports.”

Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said after meeting with Hegseth that he “shared with him that I was saddened by the attacks coming his way.”

Hagerty dismissed the allegations as “a he said, she said thing” and called it a “disgrace” that they were raised.

The senator said the focus should instead be on the Defense Department, which Hegseth will lead. It is one of the most complex parts of the federal government, with more than 3 million employees, including military and civilian service members. Sexual assault has been a persistent problem in the military, although Pentagon officials have been cautiously optimistic that they are seeing a decline in reported sexual assaults among active-duty service members and military academies.

Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who will be the Senate’s second-ranking Republican next year, said after his meeting with Hegseth that the candidate was a strong candidate who “promised that the Pentagon would focus on strength and power — not on the administration’s current woke political agenda.”

Senate Republicans are under pressure to hold hearings once they take office in January and to confirm nominees as soon as Trump is inaugurated, despite questions about whether Trump’s picks will be properly vetted or whether some, like Hegseth, have enough experience to this post.

Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, who will be the top Democrat on the panel next year, said the reports about Hegseth “underscored the need for a thorough investigation by the FBI into the background of all nominees.”

A simple majority is needed to approve Cabinet nominations, meaning that if all Democrats were to oppose a nominee, four Republican senators would also have to drop out for any Trump pick to be defeated. Trump has made it clear that he is willing to put maximum pressure on Senate Republicans to get him the nominees he wants — even suggesting at one point that they allow him to nominate his nominees without Senate votes.

But senators insist, for now, that they are not giving up their constitutional power to have a say.

“The president has the right to make the nominations he sees fit, but the Senate also has the responsibility for advice and consent,” said Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota. In Gaetz’s case, he said, “I think advice rather than consent was given.”