Trump considers nominating Ron De Santis as Secretary of Defense

Pete Hegseth's nomination as Defense Secretary is in jeopardy. Senators are looking into a series of allegations that have been made public about him. A person with knowledge of the matter told the Associated Press news agency that President-elect Donald Trump's team is concerned about Mr. Hegseth's Senate confirmation and is considering other nominations.

Three sources said Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who ran against Trump in the GOP primary, is being considered as a possible defense secretary nominee if Hegseth's nomination does not advance. The three sources spoke on condition of anonymity. Mr Trump's team declined to comment.

Pete Hegseth held private meetings with Republican senators in Congress for the second day in a row on Tuesday, amid increasing questions about his ability to lead the Pentagon.

Mr. Hegseth told reporters that he planned to meet with every senator, including those who are skeptical of his nomination.

"We will meet any senator who wants to meet us. We welcome their advice in this consultation process", said Mr. Hegseth.

The former Fox News reporter, a decorated Army National Guard veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, whom Mr. Trump nominated as Defense Secretary, is expected to be among the first nominees of the new administration to will be considered for confirmation in the Senate.

But Mr Hegseth is facing questions amid an allegation of sexual assault, which he has denied, and other press reports about his conduct at work. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham described some of these announcements as "disturbing".

"I want to make sure that every woman who joins the military feels respected and welcomed," Senator Graham told CBS News.

Republican Senator Josh Hawley said he had seen the press releases and would speak with Mr Hegseth. "I am sure that he will speak about these reports", said the senator.

Before he was the host of the weekend show Fox & Friends on the Fox News Network, Mr. Hegseth was part of two non-profit veterans advocacy groups, Concerned Veterans for America and Veterans for Freedom.

The New Yorker magazine cited this week a report and several other documents referring to Mr. Hegseth's time leading the group "Concerned Veterans for America" ​​where suspicions were raised about several incidents caused by him during work meetings while under the influence of alcohol. for inappropriate behavior towards female employees, as well as for financial mismanagement.

NBC News reported that a number of unnamed former and current Fox employees who worked with Mr. Hegseth had said that his alcohol consumption had raised concerns.

Some of them said that Mr. Hegseth had shown up to work smelling of alcohol.

The Associated Press spoke to four people who worked with the group Concerned Veterans for America or had knowledge of Mr. Hegseth's time with the group, who declined to be identified because they were not allowed to speak to the media, or because they had signed confidentiality agreements.

While the group's conferences could run late and often ended at a nearby pub, three of the four people said they had not seen Mr Hesgseth under the influence of alcohol.

A person with ties to the group Concerned Veterans for America told The Associated Press that, however, some employees had raised questions about Mr. Hegseth's alcohol use, but said his departure from the group was related to much to the ideological differences between him and the conservative non-profit network.

Confirmation of President-elect Trump's nominees requires a majority vote in the Senate. The Republicans have a 53-seat majority, which means that 4 votes against the Republicans can defeat the nomination, if all the Democrats also vote against it.

Republican senators are considering their options.

If confirmed, Mr Hegseth would not only be part of the country's nuclear command and control, but would be the sixth in line to replace the president if he is unable to carry out his role. .

During a closed-door meeting with about 12 senators late Monday, none of them asked Mr. Hegseth about the allegations against him.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz said that the American people are interested in strengthening the army and described Mr. Hegseth's criticism as "shameful".

The question marks over Mr. Hegseth and other appointees are indicative of " why the scrutiny of the purity of the image is important, why the investigative commission is critical," said Republican Senator Susan Collins.

Fellow Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville said after meeting with Mr. Hegseth that he supported his nomination. But as for the allegations, he said "they may get to a point where people don't vote to confirm him."

According to a detailed investigative report released recently, a woman reported to police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Mr. Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a hotel room in California and refused to let her out. let him go. Hegseth declared at the time to the police that the intimate relationship had been consensual and denied any violation./ VOA