On Friday night, former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), who had resigned from his position at the end of the previous year, reportedly cast an unexpected vote against Pete Hegseth, the contentious choice that President Trump had proposed to head the Department of Defense.
After voting on Thursday night to forward Hegseth’s nomination to a final vote, his decision came as a surprise to everyone.
At a time when the risks to national security posed by Russia, China, Iran, and their proxies are growing at an alarming rate, McConnell expressed his lack of trust in Hegseth’s capacity to lead the Pentagon to a successful conclusion.
“Effective management of nearly 3 million military and civilian personnel, an annual budget of nearly $1 trillion, and alliances and partnerships around the world is a daily test with staggering consequences for the security of the American people and our global interests,” McConnell said in a new 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,” he added.
In addition, he stated that Hegseth “failed” to outline in any depth a strategic vision for combating the growing aggression of China in the Far East.
As the senior senator from Kentucky entered the chamber, he did not make any statements since he had chosen to keep his cards close to his chest.
In response to reporters’ inquiries on whether or not he would back Trump’s choice for the head of the Pentagon, he did nothing more than raise his eyebrows in that cryptic gesture.
McConnell, along with fellow Republican Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), voted against Hegseth on the final vote.
As a result, Vice President Vance was required to appear in the Senate chamber in order to cast the vote that broke the tie and ensured that the troubled nominee was able to cross the finish line.
In the moments leading up to the vote, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), dropped a hint that there would be some late-night drama.
The nomination of Hegseth was met with opposition from Collins and Murkowski, in addition to a significant number of senior Democrats.
In 2017, Hegseth was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a Republican conference in Monterey, California.
Additionally, he was accused of mismanaging the money of two veterans’ groups that he chaired.
Furthermore, it was alleged that Hegseth would get intoxicated at business functions and while wearing a military uniform.
On the condition that he is confirmed as secretary of defense, Hegseth has assured Republican senators that he will abstain from drinking.
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