Senate Republicans have dismissed the affidavit from the former sister-in-law of Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of defense, alleging abuse during his second marriage. Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida stated that Hegseth's wife denied the allegations, attributing the situation to Democratic obstructionism in allowing Trump to assemble his team.
Similarly, GOP Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana compared the situation to the Kavanaugh hearings, noting that the author of the affidavit did not subject herself to questioning and that Hegseth has refuted the claims. On the other hand, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed concern over the affidavit's contents, citing similar stories he has heard.
Kaine emphasized that the repeated allegations against Hegseth, including his failure to disclose a sexual assault complaint filed against him in 2017, should be disqualifying. The differing perspectives among senators highlight the contentious nature of the nomination process and the importance of thoroughly vetting candidates for key government positions.
