Duckworth: Hegseth 'vulnerable' to blackmail from foreign adversaries
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) on Monday said President-elect Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, is “vulnerable” to blackmail from U.S. foreign adversaries and reiterated her stance that he is not “qualified” to run the Pentagon.
“It would sow confusion because our leaders in the military would not know to what they could talk to the secretary of defense about," Duckworth, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said during her Monday appearance on MSNBC’s “Reid Out.”
"And by the way, for our allies, I would be reluctant to share information with the United States military, our leadership information that would keep us safe and keep our troops safe because they didn’t know this man is compromised,” she added.
“Remember, the point of the background check is to make sure the person you put forward can’t be compromised, can’t be blackmailed, can’t be bribed,” Duckworth said. “These are all types of things that background check is supposed to be providing information to me, the senator who is going to be part of the advise and consent.”
Hegseth, the former Fox News host, is slated to testify at his Tuesday Senate confirmation hearing.
His nomination drew heavy criticism from Democrats in late 2024, expecially after various media reports detailing sexual assault allegations against the veteran and alleged mismanagement of funds while working at Concerned Veterans for America (CVA). He has denied the assault allegation and characterized the claims of mismanagement and unprofessional conduct while at the advocacy group as smears.
Lately, his nomination seems to have picked up some steam.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a key vote on the panel who has spoken out against sexual abuse int he military, has signaled support for the Trump nominee.
Hegseth has completed his FBI background check, but the report has only been seen by Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Ranking Democrat Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.).
Duckworth, a former Army helicopter pilot, has been critical of Hegseth’s nomination, claiming that he is unqualified and does not possess the management experience to head the Pentagon.
“So I can’t even make up my mind whether or not this man personally is vulnerable to being blackmailed,” Duckworth said on Monday. “What if the next woman comes forward while he’s secretary of defense and say, I’m going to come forward? And I have I have the receipts on you and that sexual assault and I have tape and video, whatever that is. What if Russia comes forward and says that. Now we have a secretary of defense who can be bribed or who can be blackmailed by a foreign power.”