Lisa Murkowski says she can’t confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said on Thursday she can’t support Pete Hegseth to be President Donald Trump’s secretary of Defense. 

“Given the global security environment we’re operating in, it is critical that we confirm a Secretary of Defense, however, I regret that I am unable to support Mr. Hegseth,” she concluded in a lengthy statement posted to X. 

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Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-AK, speaks during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the Special Diabetes Program on July 11, 2023 in Washington, DC.  (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for JDRF)

In her reasoning, Murkowski cited infidelity, “allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking” and Hegseth’s previous comments on women serving in the military. 

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The behaviors that he has admitted to alone, she said, show “a lack of judgment that is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces.”

While Hegseth has admitted to past infidelity, he has denied claims of excessive drinking and sexual assault. 

Julia Johnson is a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, leading coverage of the U.S. Senate. She was previously a politics reporter at the Washington Examiner. 

Follow Julia’s reporting on X at @JuliaaJohnson_ and send tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.

In a recent statement, Senator Lisa Murkowski expressed her hesitation to confirm Pete Hegseth as the next defense secretary. Citing concerns over Hegseth’s lack of experience in national security and defense policy, Murkowski stated that she believes the role requires someone with a deeper understanding of these complex issues.

Murkowski, a Republican senator from Alaska, emphasized the importance of having a qualified and knowledgeable individual in the position of defense secretary, especially given the current global challenges facing the United States. She indicated that she would need more information and assurances from Hegseth before she could support his nomination.

This announcement comes amidst growing speculation about who will be selected to lead the Department of Defense in the incoming administration. As a key voice in the confirmation process, Murkowski’s reservations about Hegseth could have significant implications for his chances of being confirmed.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story and the future of the defense secretary nomination process.

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1. Lisa Murkowski
2. Pete Hegseth
3. Defense Secretary
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