U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has announced she will not vote for President-Elect Donald Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced Thursday morning she will not vote for President Donald Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth.
Murkowski released a statement Thursday morning where she detailed that while did commend Hegseth’s service to the nation, those accomplishments do not alleviate any significant concerns regarding his nomination. “Above all, I believe that character is the defining trait required of the Secretary of Defense, and must be prioritized without compromise. The leader of the Department of Defense must demonstrate and model the standards of behavior and character we expect of all servicemembers, and Mr. Hegseth’s nomination to the role poses significant concerns that I cannot overlook.
The concerns come from Hegseth’s statements on women in combat, allegations of infidelity, and a lack of judgment, according to Murkowski.“I take my constitutional responsibility to provide advice and consent with the utmost seriousness,” Murkowski said. The vote was 51-49, and a final vote on the confirmation is expected on Friday. Murkowski is the first Republican to oppose a Trump Cabinet pick, with Sen. Susan Collins, R-ME, also voting against Hegseth.during an Armed Services Committee hearing earlier this month. Sullivan said Hegseth committed to visiting Alaska, addressing the Navy’s shipbuilding crisis and restoring lethality and war-fighting as the core mission of the Department of Defense.
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