Senate confirms Hegseth as defense secretary with JD Vance breaking tie

Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth arrives to testify before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to examine Hegseth's expected nomination at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Tuesday, January14, 2025. Photo: UPI / Jemal Countess

Jan. 25 (UPI) — Pete Hegseth was confirmed as defense secretary late Friday by the U.S. Senate after Vice President JD Vance broke a 50-50 tie as Senate president.

All Democratic senators voted against Hegseth, a 44, a former Fox News host, due to fitness and character issues. Also voting “no” were three Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the former majority leader.

It was only the second time in history that a vice president broke a tie for a Cabinet nominee. In 2017, Mike Pence approved Betsy DeVos to head the education department.

Vance had served as a senator from Ohio until he was sworn in as president Monday.

“I thought I was done voting in the senate,” Vance posted on X before he cast his vote, making it 51-50.

The vote began at 9 p.m. and he was confirmed at 9:50 p.m.

The Armed Services Committee vote sent the nomination to the full Senate, 14-13.

The vote was 51-49 in a procedure vote Thursday for Hegseth.

McConnel had voted “yes” in that vote.

“The most consequential cabinet official in any Administration is the Secretary of Defense. In the face of the gravest threats to U.S. national security interests since World War II, this position is even more important today,” McConnell said in a statement.

“Mr. Hegseth has failed, as yet, to demonstrate that he will pass this test. But as he assumes office, the consequences of failure are as high as they have ever been. The United States faces coordinated aggression from adversaries bent on shattering the order underpinning American security and prosperity. In public comments and testimony before the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Hegseth did not reckon with this reality.”

He concluded his statement wishing Hegseth “great success” and he looks “forward to working closely with him to restore American hard power.”

“Every member of the uniformed services will be looking to him for decisive, principled, and nonpartisan leadership,” he said.

Debate on the nomination occurred after a sworn affidavit from Hegseth’s former sister-in-law.

In that affidavit, according to CBS News, Danielle Hegseth said Hegseth allegedly abused alcohol for many years and caused his second wife to be afraid for her physical safety.

Hegseth’s attorney denied it.

The affadavit included allegations from his former sister-in-law that he behaved abusively, was prone to aggressive outbursts and racist remarks.

“As I told the FBI, I believe Hegseth has an alcohol abuse problem and was abusive to his ex-wife Samantha,” Danielle Hegseth said in the affidavit.

She added that she personally observed “Hegseth’s erratic and aggressive behavior over many years.”

In floor remarks Friday, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York called Hegseth “one of the most erratic, unqualified and unfit cabinet nominees we have ever seen in modern times.”

According to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Hegseth told her he paid $50,000 in 2017 to a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017. Hegseth’s lawyer told CBS News it was a confidential financial settlement he paid for fear he could be fired from Fox News as a result of the allegation.

The allegations ddn’t persuaded most Senate Republicans, who remained supportive of Hegseth’s nomination.

Murkowski and Collins voted no in the procedure vote.

In that affidavit, according to CBS News, Danielle Hegseth said Hegseth allegedly abused alcohol for many years and caused his second wife to be afraid for her physical safety.

Hegseth’s attorney denied it.

The affadavit included allegations from his former sister-in-law that he behaved abusively, was prone to aggressive outbursts and racist remarks.

“As I told the FBI, I believe Hegseth has an alcohol abuse problem and was abusive to his ex-wife Samantha,” Danielle Hegseth said in the affidavit.

She added that she personally observed “Hegseth’s erratic and aggressive behavior over many years.”

In floor remarks Friday, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York called Hegseth “one of the most erratic, unqualified and unfit cabinet nominees we have ever seen in modern times.”

According to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Hegseth told her he paid $50,000 in 2017 to a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017. Hegseth’s lawyer told CBS News it was a confidential financial settlement he paid for fear he could be fired from Fox News as a result of the allegation.

The allegations ddn’t persuaded most Senate Republicans, who remained supportive of Hegseth’s nomination.

Murkowski and Collins voted no in the procedure vote.

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