In discussing President-elect Trump’s nomination of former Fox News host and veteran Pete Hegseth to lead the Pentagon, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) stated that Hegseth is “being tried by anonymous sources.”
During an appearance on NBC News’s “Meet the Press,” Graham urged anyone with valid accusations against Hegseth to step forward while expressing his commitment to ensuring that the nomination process remains on track.
Graham indicated his support for Hegseth, stating, “Yeah. I’m in a good place with Pete, unless something I don’t know about comes out,” when asked about Hegseth’s chances for confirmation.
Graham backs Hegseth, emphasizing the need for transparency in the confirmation process
He acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but noted their anonymous nature. He recounted a specific inquiry he made to Hegseth, asking if he had ever made inflammatory remarks in a bar, to which Hegseth firmly responded, “No.”
Regarding the sexual assault allegations against Hegseth, Graham emphasized that the accuser has the right to come forward to the committee and mentioned that Hegseth has indicated a willingness to release the individual from their nondisclosure agreement.
“But about mismanagement of money, about having a drinking problem and saying inappropriate things, all of these are anonymous allegations,” Graham added. He expressed confidence in Hegseth’s account, asserting, “He’s given me his side of the story. It makes sense to me. I believe him. Unless somebody is willing to come forward, I think he’s going to get through.”
Graham also drew a parallel to the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who faced similar sexual assault allegations. He recalled, “Remember Kavanaugh? Five people accused Justice Kavanaugh of misconduct.
Three were outright lies. The other two, I think, were not credible. So we’re not going to let that happen to Pete. You’re not going to destroy his nomination based on anonymous sources. People have to come forward and make credible allegations, and we’ll see if they do.”
Concluding his remarks, Graham reiterated his position, urging individuals with allegations to come forward as was done during the Kavanaugh hearings. He emphasized that Hegseth is currently facing judgment based on unnamed sources, a situation he believes is unacceptable.
