Friday, July 11, 2025
Smart Again
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Politics
  • Law & Defense
  • Community
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Smart Again
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Politics
  • Law & Defense
  • Community
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Smart Again
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Top Senators on Armed Services Panel Briefed on F.B.I. Probe of Hegseth

January 12, 2025
in Politics
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
A A
0
Top Senators on Armed Services Panel Briefed on F.B.I. Probe of Hegseth
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


The top members of the Senate Armed Services Committee were briefed late Friday afternoon on the findings from the F.B.I.’s background check of Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick to serve as defense secretary, according to two people aware of the briefings.

Senator Roger Wicker, Republican of Mississippi and the chairman of the armed services panel, and Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, its top Democrat, each huddled separately with transition team officials on Friday for over an hour, according to a person familiar with the briefings, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive proceedings. The transition team commissioned the background check.

It is traditional for only the chair and ranking member of panels on the findings from an F.B.I. background check of Cabinet nominees. During the sessions, the senators were able to review the findings and ask questions about them, but were not given copies of a report to share with their colleagues.

Since the results of the F.B.I.’s probe have not been shown to other members of the committee, several Democrats on the panel expressed concerns that they might not have relevant information for Mr. Hegseth’s confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

With only days to go before Mr. Hegseth’s confirmation hearing, it appears increasingly unlikely that other senators on the panel will be shown that information before querying him about his fitness to run the Pentagon.

Rank-and-file Democrats have been up in arms about the lack of access, saying it is necessary for them to review the F.B.I.’s findings.

“I need to see his F.B.I. background check, we need to see his financial disclosures,” Senator Tammy Duckworth, Democrat of Illinois, said. “And we need to know about any other potential lawsuits he might be facing, any other allegations he might be facing.”

Public reports have documented accusations that Mr. Hegseth committed sexual assault, mismanaged the veterans’ nonprofits he ran and was frequently publicly intoxicated. Mr. Hegseth has said that the sexual assault allegation arose from a consensual encounter. He also told reporters last month that he was “a different man than I was years ago,” describing his evolution as “a redemption story.”

The allegations against Mr. Hegseth have failed to sway most Republican senators, many of whom have argued that senators should discount such claims unless the accusers were willing to come forward publicly.

Mr. Hegseth suggested to reporters last month that one whistle-blower report regarding his conduct at work was merely an “email from a disgruntled employee.”

Democrats on the committee believe there are additional allegations that should appear in the pages of an F.B.I. background check, to inform their questioning. That belief is based in part on information they have gleaned from individuals who have quietly approached Senate offices to divulge information about Mr. Hegseth.

“Damning is an understatement,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, referring to additional information about Mr. Hegseth that he has been made aware of that, in his estimation, ought to appear in the F.B.I. report. It was not clear what information he was referring to.

Mr. Blumenthal added that the fact that senators had not been promised access to Mr. Hegseth’s background check gave the “appearance of a cover-up.”

F.B.I. officials began calling and interviewing witnesses to Mr. Hegseth’s behavior last month, asking, among other subjects, whether Mr. Hegseth abused alcohol. But it not clear how many witnesses they reached, or how forthcoming those witnesses were.

Most Democrats on the panel have not yet had a chance to grill Mr. Hegseth personally. Some of them said that when they tried to schedule a meeting with Mr. Hegseth, they were told he would only be available beginning the week of Jan. 20 — the day Mr. Trump will be inaugurated, and the earliest day that the Senate could vote on his confirmation.

Sharon LaFraniere contributed reporting.



Source link

Tags: Appointments and Executive ChangesarmedBriefedDefense DepartmentDonald JF.B.IFederal Bureau of InvestigationHegsethJackPanelPetePresidential Transition (US)ProbeReedRogerSenateSenate Committee on Armed ServicesSenatorsServicesTopTrumpUnited States Defense and Military ForcesUnited States Politics and GovernmentWicker
Previous Post

Republicans Are Going Full Scumbag On Aid To California After Wildfires

Next Post

There will be strings attached”: GOP Sen. says Los Angeles wildfire aid won’t be “blank check

Related Posts

Sens. Cory Booker And Alex Padilla Introduce Bill To Unmask ICE
Politics

Sens. Cory Booker And Alex Padilla Introduce Bill To Unmask ICE

July 10, 2025
State Department employees brace for Friday layoffs
Politics

State Department employees brace for Friday layoffs

July 10, 2025
Senator Says Kristi Noem’s Incompetence Got Kids Killed In Texas Flood
Politics

Senator Says Kristi Noem’s Incompetence Got Kids Killed In Texas Flood

July 10, 2025
Texas Republicans have a brazen new plan to block Democrats from retaking the House in 2026
Politics

Texas Republicans have a brazen new plan to block Democrats from retaking the House in 2026

July 10, 2025
Bernie Sanders Takes Over Hearing And Exposes The Cruelty Of Trump’s Healthcare Crisis
Politics

Bernie Sanders Takes Over Hearing And Exposes The Cruelty Of Trump’s Healthcare Crisis

July 9, 2025
Labor Department backtracks on canceled grants for women
Politics

Labor Department backtracks on canceled grants for women

July 9, 2025
Next Post
There will be strings attached”: GOP Sen. says Los Angeles wildfire aid won’t be “blank check

There will be strings attached": GOP Sen. says Los Angeles wildfire aid won't be "blank check

Insurrectionists Melt Down After Vance Says Trump Shouldn’t Pardon Violent J6ers

Insurrectionists Melt Down After Vance Says Trump Shouldn’t Pardon Violent J6ers

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
How a House bill could let Trump label enemies as terrorists

How a House bill could let Trump label enemies as terrorists

November 20, 2024
Why is everyone crashing out?

Why is everyone crashing out?

June 29, 2025
“A huge net positive”: Controversial “Squid Game” character challenges Western representation ideals

“A huge net positive”: Controversial “Squid Game” character challenges Western representation ideals

December 31, 2024
A new book suggests a path forward for Democrats. The left hates it.

A new book suggests a path forward for Democrats. The left hates it.

March 20, 2025
“The Ugly Stepsister” rewrites “Cinderella” as a grotesque and darkly funny feminist fable

“The Ugly Stepsister” rewrites “Cinderella” as a grotesque and darkly funny feminist fable

April 18, 2025
This pro-Israel group keeps a  blacklist. Now it’s taking credit for deportations.

This pro-Israel group keeps a blacklist. Now it’s taking credit for deportations.

April 25, 2025
“They stole an election”: Former Florida senator found guilty in “ghost candidates” scandal

“They stole an election”: Former Florida senator found guilty in “ghost candidates” scandal

0
The Hawaii senator who faced down racism and ableism—and killed Nazis

The Hawaii senator who faced down racism and ableism—and killed Nazis

0
The murder rate fell at the fastest-ever pace last year—and it’s still falling

The murder rate fell at the fastest-ever pace last year—and it’s still falling

0
Trump used the site of the first assassination attempt to spew falsehoods

Trump used the site of the first assassination attempt to spew falsehoods

0
MAGA church plans to raffle a Trump AR-15 at Second Amendment rally

MAGA church plans to raffle a Trump AR-15 at Second Amendment rally

0
Tens of thousands are dying on the disability wait list

Tens of thousands are dying on the disability wait list

0
Sens. Cory Booker And Alex Padilla Introduce Bill To Unmask ICE

Sens. Cory Booker And Alex Padilla Introduce Bill To Unmask ICE

July 10, 2025
The Trump administration excludes undocumented children from Head Start

The Trump administration excludes undocumented children from Head Start

July 10, 2025
State Department employees brace for Friday layoffs

State Department employees brace for Friday layoffs

July 10, 2025
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO FILE FOR A RECOUNT OF THE 2024 ELECTION AND INVESTIGATE FOR ELECTION FRAUD.

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO FILE FOR A RECOUNT OF THE 2024 ELECTION AND INVESTIGATE FOR ELECTION FRAUD.

July 10, 2025
Dean Cain worries about “woke” Superman

Dean Cain worries about “woke” Superman

July 10, 2025
Senator Says Kristi Noem’s Incompetence Got Kids Killed In Texas Flood

Senator Says Kristi Noem’s Incompetence Got Kids Killed In Texas Flood

July 10, 2025
Smart Again

Stay informed with Smart Again, the go-to news source for liberal perspectives and in-depth analysis on politics, social justice, and more. Join us in making news smart again.

CATEGORIES

  • Community
  • Law & Defense
  • Politics
  • Trending
  • Uncategorized
No Result
View All Result

LATEST UPDATES

  • Sens. Cory Booker And Alex Padilla Introduce Bill To Unmask ICE
  • The Trump administration excludes undocumented children from Head Start
  • State Department employees brace for Friday layoffs
  • About Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2024 Smart Again.
Smart Again is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Politics
  • Law & Defense
  • Community
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2024 Smart Again.
Smart Again is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Go to mobile version