Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa signaled Monday she is finding common policy ground with Pete Hegseth after holding an “encouraging” meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s embattled nominee to lead the Department of Defense.
In a statement, Ms. Ernst did not say specifically that she would vote for his confirmation but indicated she had won some concessions from Mr. Hegseth, or at least agreements.
“I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ms. Ernst said in a statement. “Following our encouraging conversations, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our servicemen and women — based on quality and standards, not quotas — and who will prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks.”
She said, “As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.”
Ms. Ernst, a member of the Armed Services Committee and a survivor of sexual assault, is among a small faction of GOP holdouts in the Senate who have wavered on backing Mr. Hegseth’s confirmation to the Pentagon’s top job. He has refuted allegations of a sexual assault, heavy drinking and other alleged misconduct.
Mr. Hegseth told Capitol Hill reporters he had a “very” productive 30-minute meeting with Ms. Ernst as he made the rounds on Capitol Hill, looking to shore up enough Senate support to win confirmation early next year.
“I’ve known her for 10 years,” Mr. Hegseth said. “The more we talk, the more we are reminded, as two combat veterans, of how dedicated we are to defense.”
“She had been dedicated to making the Pentagon work for war-fighters for a long time,” he said. “We’ve had great extensive conversations about that, and I just appreciate her commitment to the process, and we look forward to working together.”
Mr. Trump shocked much of the political establishment in Washington when he nominated Mr. Hegseth, a former Army National Guard officer best known as a Fox News commentator, to run the sprawling Department of Defense.
The nomination has been clouded by allegations that Mr. Hegseth has a history of excessive drinking, financially mismanaged a military veterans nonprofit group and made a settlement payment after being accused of sexual assault.
Mr. Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing.
Ms. Ernst and the Republican senators who have refused to rubber stamp the Hegseth nomination have come under intense pressure from Trump loyalists to fall in line.
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina raised eyebrows last week after he told CBS News that some reports about Mr. Hegseth’s past are “very disturbing” and said, “This stuff is going to be difficult.”
On Monday, Mr. Graham softened his tone.
“When it comes to supporting presidential Cabinet nominees, I have a record of being supportive regardless of party because I think every president deserves the right to pick their team,” Mr. Graham said in a statement. “The confirmation process for all nominees does and should allow for challenging questions, and I expect that to be the case here.”
“However, I told Pete that he will be given the opportunity to defend himself and that his confirmation hearing should not be allowed to become a three-ring circus,” he said.
Mr. Trump has already been defeated on the nomination front after former Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida pulled his name out of the running to become attorney general.
The focus has since turned to Mr. Hegseth and some of Mr. Trump’s other unconventional nominees, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the Department of Health and Human Services and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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