Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has announced that she will thoroughly vet Pete Hegseth, a former Army National Guard captain and Fox News contributor, amid allegations of misconduct. Hegseth has been accused of inappropriate behavior by several women, including a survivor of sexual assault who claims he made unwanted advances towards her.
The allegations against Hegseth have raised concerns about his suitability for a potential role in the Trump administration. Hegseth has been rumored to be under consideration for a position at the Department of Veterans Affairs, although the White House has not confirmed this.
Ernst, a veteran of the Iowa Army National Guard, has been a vocal advocate for victims of sexual assault and harassment in the military. In a statement, she pledged to thoroughly vet Hegseth and ensure that he is held to the highest standards of conduct.
“As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I take allegations of misconduct very seriously,” Ernst said. “I will thoroughly vet Pete Hegseth and ensure that he is held to the highest standards of conduct. If he is found to have engaged in any wrongdoing, he will not be suitable for a role in the Trump administration.”
The survivor of sexual assault who accused Hegseth of misconduct has come forward to share her story. In an interview, she described how Hegseth made unwanted advances towards her at a social event. She said that she was shocked and disturbed by his behavior, and that she felt uncomfortable and vulnerable.
“I was shocked and disturbed by Pete’s behavior,” she said. “I felt uncomfortable and vulnerable, and I didn’t know how to react. I didn’t want to make a scene, but I also didn’t want to be alone with him.”
The survivor’s allegations against Hegseth are not the only ones he has faced. Several other women have come forward to accuse him of inappropriate behavior, including a former colleague who claimed that he made sexist comments towards her.
Hegseth has denied all allegations of misconduct, saying that they are “baseless” and “false.” However, the allegations have raised concerns about his suitability for a role in the Trump administration.
The Trump administration has faced criticism for its handling of allegations of misconduct against its nominees. In 2018, the administration was criticized for its handling of allegations against Brett Kavanaugh, a Supreme Court nominee who was accused of sexual assault.
The administration has also faced criticism for its handling of allegations against other nominees, including Scott Pruitt, a former EPA administrator who was accused of misconduct.
In response to the allegations against Hegseth, the White House has said that it takes all allegations of misconduct seriously. However, it has not commented on whether Hegseth is still under consideration for a role in the administration.
The allegations against Hegseth have also raised concerns about the culture of the military and the Trump administration’s handling of allegations of misconduct. In recent years, the military has faced criticism for its handling of allegations of sexual assault and harassment.
In 2019, the Pentagon released a report that found that the number of reported cases of sexual assault in the military had increased by 10% in 2018. The report also found that the number of reported cases of sexual harassment had increased by 20%.
The report’s findings were widely criticized by advocates for victims of sexual assault and harassment. They argued that the report’s findings were further evidence of the need for greater action to address the problem of sexual assault and harassment in the military.
In response to the report’s findings, the Pentagon has announced plans to increase its efforts to prevent and respond to sexual assault and harassment. The plans include increased training for military personnel and the establishment of a new office to oversee the military’s response to allegations of misconduct.
The allegations against Hegseth have also raised concerns about the culture of the Trump administration. In recent years, the administration has faced criticism for its handling of allegations of misconduct against its nominees.
In 2018, the administration was criticized for its handling of allegations against Brett Kavanaugh, a Supreme Court nominee who was accused of sexual assault. The administration was also criticized for its handling of allegations against other nominees, including Scott Pruitt, a former EPA administrator who was accused of misconduct.
In response to the allegations against Hegseth, Ernst has pledged to thoroughly vet him and ensure that he is held to the highest standards of conduct. She has also called on the Trump administration to take all allegations of misconduct seriously and to ensure that its nominees are thoroughly vetted.
“I take allegations of misconduct very seriously,” Ernst said. “I will thoroughly vet Pete Hegseth and ensure that he is held to the highest standards of conduct. If he is found to have engaged in any wrongdoing, he will not be suitable for a role in the Trump administration.”
