As Pete Hegseth faces the Armed Services Committee in an effort to secure his bid to be secretary of defense today (Jan. 14), there’s an undercurrent of fear on both sides of the political divide. The former Fox News personality is the proverbial canary in the coal mine for a string of upcoming nominees, and he is arguably one of the most contentious.
Peril in the Process
Despite wide reporting that Senate Majority Leader John Thune told President-elect Donald Trump “Hegseth has the votes” – a simple majority required — the hurdles to get to that vote remain high. Before facing the full Senate, Hegseth must deal with the committee. Chair Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) were briefed by the FBI last Friday as part of the standard protocol, and they must determine what information to share with the other members.
The full…
