Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced on Thursday that she would oppose the nomination of President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.
Murkowski, who finds herself at odds with large portions of the Republican base on occasion, said she made her decision after she “met with him and carefully reviewed his writings, various reports, and other pertinent materials.”
“I closely followed his hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee and gathered substantial feedback from organizations, veterans, and Alaskans,” she said. “After thorough evaluation, I must conclude that I cannot in good conscience support his nomination for Secretary of Defense. I did not make this decision lightly; I take my constitutional responsibility to provide advice and consent with the utmost seriousness.”
She praised Hegseth’s service in the U.S. military, but said that it did not “alleviate” her “significant concerns regarding his nomination.”
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Murkowski said she had concerns about his ability to navigate through “one of the most complex and powerful organizations in the world” due to its enormous size at more than 3 million employees.
She continued:
Although he has recently revised his statements on women in combat since being nominated, I remain concerned about the message that confirming Mr. Hegseth sends to women currently serving and those aspiring to join. Women have served our nation with distinction, overcoming immense obstacles to excel in combat and leadership roles, and they deserve to know that their leader honors and values their commitment to our nation.
While the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking do nothing to quiet my concerns, the past behaviors Mr. Hegseth has admitted to, including infidelity on multiple occasions, demonstrate a lack of judgment that is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces. These behaviors starkly contrast the values and discipline expected of servicemembers. Men and women in uniform are held accountable for such actions, and they deserve leaders who uphold these same standards.
She believes that Hegseth’s nomination “poses significant concerns that I cannot overlook” given the current threat environment that the U.S. faces.
Murkowski faced backlash online immediately following the announcement, including widespread calls to face a primary challenger.
While Hegseth has owned up to some of his past behavior, he has vigorously denied allegations from unnamed sources who have accused him of sexual misconduct and having drinking problems.
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[[{“value”:”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced on Thursday that she would oppose the nomination of President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.
Murkowski, who finds herself at odds with large portions of the Republican base on occasion, said she made her decision after she “met with him and carefully reviewed his writings, various reports, and other pertinent materials.”
“I closely followed his hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee and gathered substantial feedback from organizations, veterans, and Alaskans,” she said. “After thorough evaluation, I must conclude that I cannot in good conscience support his nomination for Secretary of Defense. I did not make this decision lightly; I take my constitutional responsibility to provide advice and consent with the utmost seriousness.”
She praised Hegseth’s service in the U.S. military, but said that it did not “alleviate” her “significant concerns regarding his nomination.”
CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT
Murkowski said she had concerns about his ability to navigate through “one of the most complex and powerful organizations in the world” due to its enormous size at more than 3 million employees.
She continued:
Although he has recently revised his statements on women in combat since being nominated, I remain concerned about the message that confirming Mr. Hegseth sends to women currently serving and those aspiring to join. Women have served our nation with distinction, overcoming immense obstacles to excel in combat and leadership roles, and they deserve to know that their leader honors and values their commitment to our nation.
While the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking do nothing to quiet my concerns, the past behaviors Mr. Hegseth has admitted to, including infidelity on multiple occasions, demonstrate a lack of judgment that is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces. These behaviors starkly contrast the values and discipline expected of servicemembers. Men and women in uniform are held accountable for such actions, and they deserve leaders who uphold these same standards.
She believes that Hegseth’s nomination “poses significant concerns that I cannot overlook” given the current threat environment that the U.S. faces.
Murkowski faced backlash online immediately following the announcement, including widespread calls to face a primary challenger.
While Hegseth has owned up to some of his past behavior, he has vigorously denied allegations from unnamed sources who have accused him of sexual misconduct and having drinking problems.
“}]]
