Friends,

On Tuesday, President-elect Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, appeared in a nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. As a committee member, I had the opportunity to ask him questions — I hope you’ll read more below about our exchange.

During the hearing, I brought up concerning reports of Hegseth sexually assaulting and harassing women — including a 2017 incident in which Hegseth entered into a private settlement agreement with the accuser. 

I asked him whether committing sexual assault is disqualifying to be Secretary of Defense.

Hegseth refused to answer the question.

I asked him why he failed to disclose the incident to the Trump Transition Team, or to the future Commander-in-Chief, as they considered him for this critical national security role. 

Hegseth refused to answer the question.

I also asked him about troubling reports that he has shown up for work under the influence of alcohol, and whether that would be disqualifying for someone to be Secretary of Defense.

Once more, Hegseth refused to answer the question.

Look — I’ve served on the Senate Armed Services Committee since 2013. I have never voted against a nominee to be Secretary of Defense since I came to the Senate. I have voted to confirm five Secretaries of Defense under Administrations of both parties. So I want to be crystal clear when I say that my misgivings about Pete Hegseth are not political in nature. 

The Secretary of Defense’s position of command over the U.S. military is second only to the President and Commander-in-Chief. They hold immense authority and responsibility for the safety of our country, and of the women and men who put their lives on the line on its behalf.

My role as a Senator is to carefully weigh the ability of the President-elect’s nominee to serve in this position, and based on this week's hearing and Hegseth’s repeated refusals to answer my questions, I hold grave concerns about the possibility of Pete Hegseth as our next Secretary of Defense.

As the public confirmation process moves forward, I will continue to carefully consider all the relevant and available information about Pete Hegseth — and all of President-elect Trump’s nominees. I take this process incredibly seriously, and I hope you’ll stay up-to-date with me throughout it.

Thanks for reading, and more to come soon.

-Tim Kaine

Paid for by Kaine for Virginia

1490-5A Quarterpath Road #272

Williamsburg, VA 23185

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