'No rumors': Republican changes tune on Hegseth day after calling allegations 'disturbing'

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) appeared to sing a different tune when asked his thoughts on President-elect Donald Trump’s troubled pick to lead the Department of Defense on Wednesday.

Graham came to Pete Hegseth’s defense a day after calling allegations against the nominee “disturbing,” but stopped short of predicting he would breeze by the Senate confirmation process as questions surrounding his past treatment of women and alcohol abuse come into focus.

“All I can say is Democrats want to talk about confirmation drama, I want to talk about securing the border and cutting taxes,” Graham said. “This is a diversion.”

Graham made the comments during an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday night where he told host Sean Hannity that he expects Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Kash Patel – Trump’s selections for attorney general and FBI director – to make it through their confirmation hearings without major backlash.

ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Senate Dems consider whether Biden should ‘clear the slate’ and pardon Trump

Bondi, he added, would come out of the hearings with support from “Republicans and I think some Democrats,” while Patel would likely win over a majority of Republicans, Graham said.

But he didn’t offer the same clear path for Hegseth.

“I will say this, that the confirmation process for both sides, you should find out who you are putting in these important jobs and time will tell if there’s anything serious here. Allegations that are anonymous don’t count.”

The South Carolina senator told Hannity that he wouldn’t make any decisions “based on an anonymous source.”

“The allegations about Pete are all anonymous sources,” he said. “If you are not willing to raise your hand under oath to make the accusation, it doesn’t count. I’ve heard everything about all of these people, none of it counts – no rumors, no innuendos.”

Graham added that he’s known Hegseth “for a long time” having served with him in Afghanistan and said, “The people over there said nothing but great things about him.”

Watch the clip below or at this link: