Sen. Smith: I Have Massive Concerns About Pete Hegseth and the Endless Stories About Him Assaulting Women and Being Publicly Drunk

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:
SHARPTON: “Joining me now is Minnesota senator Tina Smith, a Democrat. Senator Smith, you have had some extra company on Capitol Hill this week. Pete Hegseth has spent time trying to convince your colleagues he won’t drink on the job as Trump’s secretary of defense. You have already told Minnesota public radio you would give all of Trump cabinet members picks a fair hearing no matter how concerning. How would you address Hegseth’s treatment of women? Not only the sexual assault allegations against him but also his views on the role of women in the military?”

Smith: “Thank you reverend sharpton. I’m so glad to be with you. My job as a senator as described in the Constitution is to make a determination about whether these nominees are fit to do these jobs. Whether they are going to uphold the law, whether they are going to follow the Constitution and whether they have the capability of serving in these roles and the Department of Defense job is hugely important so I have massive concerns about Pete Hegseth certainly the endless stream of stories about him being publicly drunk, unable to stand up and the allegations of him assaulting women are deeply concerning but at the end of the day, this will be up to my Republican colleagues. Do they stand up for the men and women who serve our country? Or do they follow the whims of this president-elect? There are a lot of women who have served our country in Minnesota who served in combat and I’m thinking about them and how they would feel to have the next secretary of defense who feels people don’t deserve to have the opportunity to serve.”