[CREDIT: CSPAN] After confirmation by the U.S. Senate in a tie breaking vote of 51-50, President Donald Trump's pick to serve as Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, was sworn in by Vice President JD Vance Saturday, Jan. 25.

WASHINGTON, DC — Friday, after the U.S. Senate voted 50-50 on the nomination of Peter Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, with Vice President JD Vance casting a tie-breaking vote in favor of the nomination, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), vowed to work with him and watch him “like a hawk.”

During confirmation hearings, Reed, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questioned Hegseth’s fitness for the position, expressed concern about reports of Hegseth’s conduct and his personal writings detailing a lack of respect for the laws of war, financial mismanagement, sexist and racist remarks, and alcohol abuse.

“Mr. Hegseth, I do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job.

We must acknowledge the concerning public reports against you. A variety of sources – including your own writings – implicate you with disregarding laws of war, financial mismanagement, racist and sexist remarks about men and women in uniform, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other troubling issues. I have reviewed many of these allegations, and find them extremely alarming.

Indeed, the totality of your own writings and alleged conduct would disqualify any servicemember from holding any leadership position in the military, much less being confirmed as the Secretary of Defense.”

Hegseth, when given the chance to respond to concerns about his drinking and lack of concern for military law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice during confirmation hearings, during questions from Sen. Mazie Hirono, (D-Hawaii) declined to:

Vow to resign if he violates his promise to give up drinking during his term
Vow to disobey illegal orders, such as when President Trump ordered the military to shoot protesters in the legs
Vow to disobey orders to take over Greenland or the Panama Canal, as Trump has suggested he will do.

‘I opposed his nomination, but respect the outcome of his confirmation. Still, I am going to watch him like a hawk, as I have with previous Secretaries from both parties. I will point out where we disagree. I will demand accountability.’

Wednesday, Reed secured a sworn affidavit recounting specific incidents of Hegseth’s alcohol abuse, threatening and abusive behavior toward his second wife, and repeated pattern of offensive public misconduct, and distributed it to fellow members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Among the incidents recounted to the FBI and cited in the affidavit are the following:

Mr. Hegseth abused alcohol regularly and his volatile behavior caused family members to fear for their safety.
Mr. Hegseth’s second spouse had an ‘escape plan’ that involved texting a ‘safe word’ to friends and family to urgently request assistance without putting herself in more danger with Mr. Hegseth. This escape plan was executed on at least one occasion.
On at least one occasion, Mr. Hegseth’s second spouse hid in her closet out of fear of him.
While drunk in his military uniform – a violation of military laws – Mr. Hegseth was so inebriated that his brother had to carry him out of a Minneapolis strip club. This occurred during a drill weekend with the Minnesota National Guard.
Mr. Hegseth regularly became so drunk that he passed out, threw up, and had to be carried out of family events and public settings, sometimes shouting sexually and racially offensive statements.
Mr. Hegseth said that women should not vote or work, and that Christians needed to have more children so they could overtake the Muslim population.
Several other accounts of abusive behavior and public drunkenness.

“The sworn affidavit from this courageous woman, provided at enormous personal risk and with nothing to gain, documents a disturbing pattern of abuse and misconduct by Mr. Hegseth. This behavior would disqualify any service member from holding any leadership position in the military, much less being confirmed as the Secretary of Defense,” Reed said Wednesday.

But Reed’s concerns were not heeded by many Senate Republicans Friday, and Vice President JD Vance swore him in as Secretary of Defense Saturday.

“Pete Hegseth is now the Secretary of Defense. This is who President Trump hand-picked and fifty Republicans fully supported, knowing full well of his past misconduct. Now he is assuming one of the most consequential jobs in the world, and I fervently hope he is up to the task and will be a responsible, effective leader at the Pentagon.

“I opposed his nomination, but respect the outcome of his confirmation. Still, I am going to watch him like a hawk, as I have with previous Secretaries from both parties. I will point out where we disagree. I will demand accountability.

“My top priority has always been national security, and partisanship has no place in that mission. I will always pick up the phone for Mr. Hegseth and seek opportunities to work with the Secretary to strengthen and support our military.

“I hope Secretary Hegseth comports himself with the wisdom, composure, and character that this awesome responsibility demands. Our military men and women and, indeed, the American people, deserve nothing less from the Secretary of Defense.” Reed-Hegseth-OPENING-STATEMENT

Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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