Sen. Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, stating she believes he is “unfit” to serve and laying out a bevy of accusations and over 100 questions for him to answer at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, accused Hegseth of “gross mismanagement” at the nonprofits he operated, using business funds for personal expenses, and having a drinking problem. She also criticized his policy positions, including previous comments about women in the military and his views on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the military.
Warren also raised concerns about Hegseth’s potential to undermine veterans’ benefits and the Department of Defense Education Activity, and asked about his views on the 2020 election and whether he believes Trump won or lost fairly.
Hegseth has been associated with “Christian nationalism,” Warren claimed, citing a tattoo on his arm that she believes is linked to right-wing extremism. She also expressed worries about his willingness to aid Trump in targeting his political opponents.
Trump’s transition team responded, stating that Hegseth looks forward to answering Senators’ questions and detailing his qualifications at his hearing. The team accused Warren of focusing on “woke” policies that have weakened national defense and argued that Hegseth’s policies are designed to rebuild the military.