Pete Hegseth received another key vote to confirm President-elect Trump's defense secretary.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, said Friday he would vote to confirm Hegseth. Hegseth is a veteran whose nomination has been questioned over questions about the role of women in the military, allegations of sexual misconduct and accusations against him. Drinking alcohol at a previous job.
Hegseth emerged relatively unscathed from questions from lawmakers during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee this week.
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President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies during the Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, January 14 ((Photo by Andrew Harnick/Getty Images))
"The President's pick for Secretary of Defense, Mr. Hegseth, has impressive academic credentials, distinguished himself at Senate Armed Services hearings, and has a commendable uniformed service record. He assured me that he will have strong support. "Team," Cassidy said in a statement. "I will vote for his confirmation."
Hegseth has strong support from Republicans, including Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, who has previously expressed concerns about his nomination.
Pete Hegseth says he hasn't heard from West Point since staff 'mistakenly' declined to accept his offer
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) attends a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on August 5, 2022 in Washington, DC (Kevin Dickey/Getty Images)
senator. Tommy TubervilleThe Alabama Republican said Hegseth made it through his confirmation hearing "with flying colors."
"They were trying to provoke him. They made all these anonymous accusations. He had an answer for every one of them," Tuberville said at the time.
During his proceedings, protesters were dragged out with zip ties after interrupting the hearing.
Democratic lawmakers also questioned Hegseth about his stance on women serving in the military, prompting him to push back on his own argument about women serving in the military, focusing on the idea that military standards would not be eroded.
Rep. Michael Walz (R-Fla.) (L) introduces U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Herbert during a Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., January 14. Gus (Getty Images)
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"I would like to point out that I have never disparaged women who serve in the military," he told Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. "I respect every female member of the military who puts on the uniform, past or present. Senator, my criticisms, both recent and past, and from personal experience, are examples of where I have seen standards lowered. "