WASHINGTON — Some Republicans are trying to slow the rush to appoint President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks — particularly "Fox & Friends Weekend" host Pete Hegseth. Last week, Trump nominated Hegseth to serve as his Secretary of Defense.
Speaking to Raw Story on Monday evening, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) confessed that she has questions.
"They have to be vetted, and we’ll get to the bottom of it,” Ernst said. “We just need to have them thoroughly vetted.”
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“We’re just gonna have to have a conversation."
While Ernst urges proper vetting, CNN reported last week that Trump's transition team isn't using the FBI to do background checks on the appointees, saying they believe that would take too long.Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) called Hegseth a "good guy," noting, "I know him well."
“Did you ever know about the past sexual assault accusation?” Raw Story asked.
“Come on now,” Tuberville complained. “Come on now.”
Raw Story pointed out that the Washington Post reported that Hegseth's accuser was paid and signed a nondisclosure agreement.
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Hegseth's lawyer said that he paid the woman off out of fear he would be fired from Fox. Trump's transition team confessed that the scandal blindsided them.
Raw Story asked Tuberville: “Have you not heard about that?”
“No, I don't keep up with all that,” Tuberville replied.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) also admitted, “I know nothing."
“I’ll let the process play out," he claimed. "I don't know the individuals. I don't know the rumors. I don't know what’s being made of this."
Raw Story asked if Johnson had concerns about the vetting of the possible candidates.
“They'll be vetted,” Johnson promised.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) similarly assumed that the candidates would have a proper background check.
“I won't know anything until I see a full vetting,” Tillis said at the Capitol.
Meanwhile, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) called the allegations against Hegseth "serious" and urged an investigation be "pursued."
"That would require, I think, a very thorough FBI background that I think has to be done, and then he has to make himself available for individual questioning, and then a committee hearing that's open," the senator told Raw Story.
Trump's team has teased a recess appointment, which would allow his Cabinet picks take their positions without being confirmed by the Senate.
Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said that there will not be any recess appointments.
“The recess appointment is just terrible, and I think what it does is that — if agreed to — would forfeit our obligation to be a check and balance on the president[-elect]. A dereliction of duty," said Reed.
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told Raw Story that he found it "inconceivable" that "any senator would think of confirming so many people, including [Hegseth], who are unprepared for the job, unqualified for the job by experience or by past involvements. It’s offensive."
“All of these appointments that he's made are more about his petulance than it is about their qualifications,” Hoyer said. “The country is ill-served by this irresponsibility.”