U.S. SENATOR JONI ERNST OF IOWA WAS AMONG THOSE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO INTERVIEWED PETE HEGSETH,PRESIDENT ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S NOMINEE FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TUESDAY.
ERNST, WHO IS A COMBAT VETERAN, RELEASED A STATEMENT ON THAT INTERVIEW SAYING QUOTE:
“AFTER FOUR YEARS OF WEAKNESS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, AMERICANS DESERVE A STRONG SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, AND AFTER OUR CONVERSATIONS, I WILL SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S PICK FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.
ERNST IS A RETIRED VETERAN OF THE IOWA NATIONAL GUARD AND ASKED HEGSETH ABOUT WOMEN SERVING IN COMBAT;
ERNST10 COMBAT ROLES. :22
HEGSETH SAYS HE WILL:
HEGSETH1 OC………NOT BEEN ERODED. :14
ERNST SAYS SHE WILL WILL WORK WITH HEGSETH TO CREATE THE MOST LETHAL FIGHTING FORCE AND HOLD HIM TO HIS COMMITMENT OF AUDITING THE PENTAGON:
HEGSETH2 OC…BE A PRIORITY. :25
ERNST HAS WORKED TO GET RID OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY, AND ASKED HEGSETH ABOUT HOW HE WILL HANDLE THAT ISSUE.
ERNST11 OC……..YES I WILL” :10
HEGSETH ADDRESSED ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL INDISCRETIONS AS WELL AS FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES AT NON-PROFIT VETERANS GROUPS HE LED.DURING QUESTIONING AT THE HEARING.
HE SAYS HE HAS FACED A CONCENTRATED CAMPAIGN BY THE MEDIA TO TRY AND DISCREDIT HIM WITH UNNAMED SOURCES.
Photo from Senate Armed Services Hearing
