Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (New York) is scheduled to meet with Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) on Monday night to discuss the controversial confirmation hearing for Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth. It will take place a few hours before that.
A Senate Democratic official confirmed the last-minute meeting to Fox News Digital.
Schumer and other Democrats have made their opposition to the former Fox News host clear in the days leading up to the first hearing of all of President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees.
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Schumer met with Democratic committee members hours before the hearing. (Reuters)
The meeting, first reported by Axios, comes as Senate Democratic officials said the New York Democrat will grill President Trump’s nominees in upcoming hearings and encourage fellow party members to go on the record about controversial Trump topics. This was done after a request was made to the congregation.
The person added that the Democratic Party is planning a groundbreaking so that it can be said to have warned President Trump about his Cabinet reshuffles at an early stage.
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Hegseth was chosen by President Trump to be his secretary of defense. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“Unfortunately, to put it generously, Mr. Hegseth’s history is very troubled,” Schumer said in remarks on the floor Monday. “I’ve read the allegations of sexual assault and the reports about his failures.” In financial management of multiple organizations. ”
Hegseth denies all allegations, including those that suggest financial mismanagement, sexual assault and alcohol use.
A spokesperson for the defense secretary candidate had no immediate comment to Fox News Digital.
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Mr. Schumer has criticized Mr. Hegseth over a variety of allegations. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
SASC Democrats include Ranking Members Dr. Jack Reed, Jeanne Shaheen, DN.H., Kirsten Gillibrand, DN.Y., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Maisie Hirono, D-Hawaii. , Tim Kaine, Democrats. Virginia, Angus King, I Main, Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts, Democrat, Gary Peters, Michigan, Tammy Duckworth, Illinois, Jacky Rosen, Democrat of Nevada, Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, Democrat of Michigan. Elissa Slotkin.
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Sens. Jack Reed and Debbie Fischer during a Senate hearing. (Reuters)
Mr. Reed and Mr. Hegseth met last week and had a very brief discussion. SASC ranking members later said in a statement: “Today’s meeting did not resolve my concerns about Mr. Hegseth’s lack of qualifications and raised more questions than answers.”
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“Like all candidates for this important position, Mr. Hegseth must undergo the same high level of scrutiny as previous candidates for Secretary of Defense,” he added.
Julia Johnson is a political writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, where she leads coverage of the U.S. Senate. She previously served as a political reporter for the Washington Examiner.
Follow Julia’s reporting on X. @juliaajohnson_ Send your tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.