A Democratic strategist issued a scathing rebuke of every senator who voted to advance the nomination of former Fox News weekend co-host Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary.
President Donald Trump's nominee appears to have enough votes to survive his confirmation hearing, planned for Friday, despite serious allegations of abuse and sexual assault, which he denies.
A woman accused Hegseth of sexually assaulting her at a Republican women's conference in Monterey, California, in October 2017. New reporting this week revealed that Hegseth paid the woman $50,000 in a settlement.
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Additionally, his former sister-in-law Danielle Hegseth wrote in an affidavit that Hegseth showed "abusive" and "erratic and aggressive" conduct towards his second wife, Samantha. She said Samantha once hid in a closet and had a safe word to signal for assistance if she felt threatened.
Hegseth's nomination became the topic of discussion on CNN's "NewsNight" late Thursday, with Democratic strategist Julie Ruginsky unloading on the senators who plan to back him.
"Let me just point out the hypocrisy here," she said, noting that she and former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson pushed the only two pieces of "#MeToo" federal legislation through Congress. "Every single one of those senators who voted for him today — every single one — all said they support a ban on pre-dispute [non-disclosure agreements] for sexual misconduct."
Roginsky is an outspoken advocate of women’s rights and issues, who sued Fox News for sexual harassment and retaliation. In Congress, she advocated for the "Speak Out Act," which eradicated pre-dispute NDAs for sexual assault and harassment.
She continued, "Every single one gave these great speeches about how NDAs have no place when it comes to sexual misconduct and we're living in a whole new world now, women need to be believed, and it was a beautiful moment. And then they turn around and do this. I mean talk about hypocrisy. Talk about throwing out your values on behalf of Donald Trump."
Kara Swisher, a journalist and podcaster who focuses on Silicon Valley, chimed in, "I'm shocked."
"I'm shocked too," Roginsky replied. "I'm shocked and floored."
Roginsky railed that the lawmakers stood in Congress with "tears in their eyes" decrying NDAs and insisting people believe women.
"And look what happened. Look what happened the minute Donald Trump told them to bend the knee," she concluded.
Watch the clip below or at this link.
