A key senator on the Armed Services Committee says he is standing by President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, pushing back on those he called ‘anonymous sources with ulterior motives’ who are casting doubt on his character.
Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., in a statement Wednesday criticized recent reports on a confidential briefing on the FBI background investigation of Hegseth as ‘starkly and factually inaccurate.’
‘It is disturbing that a sensitive, longstanding process used by committee leadership to vet presidential personnel is being litigated in the press by anonymous sources with ulterior motives,’ Wicker said, adding that he’s received three separate, detailed briefings on the FBI’s background investigation.
Wicker was responding to a CNN report that cited two sources familiar with the matter who claimed that Hegseth’s ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth, gave a statement to the FBI about Hegseth’s alleged alcohol use. The outlet said one of the sources said Samantha Hegseth told the FBI, ‘He drinks more often than he doesn’t.’
A source familiar with the FBI investigation confirmed the recent briefing and its contents to Fox News, saying ‘yes, Samantha provided a prepared statement to the FBI in which she said Pete Hegseth has had and continues to have a problem with alcohol abuse. That statement was communicated by the FBI to Senators Wicker and Reed.’
Meanwhile, Wicker says that he continues to stand by Hegseth.
‘After this thorough review, I am ironclad in my assessment that the nominee, Mr. Hegseth, is prepared to be the next Secretary of Defense, and that the allegations unfairly impugning his character do not pass scrutiny,’ the senator said.
Wicker said that Hegseth has the confidence of Trump and the backing of Senate Republicans, and called on the Senate to confirm the nominee ‘as fast as possible’ during this ‘precarious national security moment.’
A vote on the Defense Secretary nominee is expected to come this weekend if the Republicans and Democrats in the Senate do not come to a time agreement to expedite the process.
Hegseth has faced controversy throughout his confirmation process.
On Tuesday, Fox News obtained an affidavit from Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, which alleges he has an alcohol abuse problem and at times made his ex-wife, Samantha, fear for her safety. Danielle Hegseth was married to Pete Hegseth’s brother. She is not the sister of Samantha, Pete Hegseth’s second wife.
But Danielle Hegseth added that she never witnessed any abuse herself, physical or sexual, from Pete against Samantha.
Samantha Hegseth has also denied any physical abuse in a statement given to NBC News.
‘There was no physical abuse in my marriage. This is the only further statement I will make to you. I have let you know that I am not speaking and will not speak on my marriage to Pete. Please respect this decision,’ she reportedly said.
Fox News’ Kelly Phares and Daniel Scully contributed to this report.