During his confirmation hearing, Sen. Liz Warren poses over 100 questions to Pete Hegseth.
In her letter to Hegseth, Warren stated that his confirmation as Secretary of Defense would be harmful.
On Tuesday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren will send a letter to Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary, detailing numerous accusations and 100 questions that she expects him to address during his confirmation hearing.
Last week, Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, wrote a 33-page letter to Hegseth, stating that he is "unfit" to serve. In the letter, Warren referred to Hegseth as an "insider threat" due to a tattoo he has that Warren claims is linked to "right-wing extremism."
"Warren expresses concern in a letter that the confirmation of the Secretary of Defense would harm national security and disrespect servicemembers who are willing to give up for the country."
Hegseth is accused of financial mismanagement while running two nonprofits, heavy drinking, and sexual assault.
In her letter, Elizabeth Warren accused Hegseth of mismanagement and using business funds for personal expenses. She cited past colleagues who claimed to have witnessed the misconduct. Additionally, Warren claimed that some of Hegseth's colleagues had shared concerns about his potential drinking problem, citing 11 separate incidents where he was described as drinking excessively or inappropriately in public. Warren asked Hegseth if he would resign if he were caught drinking again.
In the letter, Warren criticized Hegseth's policy views, which were expressed in various media appearances and books.
Hegseth's previous comments about women in the military, particularly his assertion that only men should be allowed in combat roles, were criticized by Warren. Warren also questioned Hegseth about other aspects of women in the military, such as whether single women in the military should have access to birth control.
Warren criticized Hegseth for advocating for the removal of DEI programs in the military and for suggesting that any general or admiral involved in DEI initiatives should be fired, in a letter she wrote in November.
Warren expressed concerns about Hegseth's willingness to assist Trump in attacking his political opponents, as well as his thoughts on the 2020 election and whether Trump won fairly.
In the letter, Warren mentioned that Hegseth was not invited to President Biden's inauguration in 2021 due to concerns about him being an "insider threat." This was because of reports that his tattoo with the words "Deus Vult," which is a "Christian expression associated with right-wing extremism," could pose a threat to national security.
Warren questioned Hegseth's willingness to work with allies, including those within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and expressed concern that Hegseth's "skepticism" over aiding Ukraine in its fight against Russia could lead to him not adequately supporting the country. Additionally, Warren questioned whether Hegseth would "undermine" veterans' benefits and what he might do to the Department of Defense Education Activity, which educates troops' children.
Trump Transition spokesperson Bran Hughes stated that Hegseth is eager to address Senators' questions and highlight his numerous qualifications during his hearing tomorrow.
"Senator Warren's letter to Pete Hegseth is a reflection of the American voters' rejection of "woke" policies on November 5. Instead of focusing on these policies that have weakened our national defense, the voters gave a mandate to rebuild our military. As a reform-minded Secretary of Defense, Hegseth will fulfill this mandate. Senator Warren's letter highlights why ideologically driven college professors have no place driving their social agenda at the Department of Defense."
Efforts to reach Warren for comment for purposes of this story were unsuccessful.
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