By Simone Carter
U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland is blasting President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination for defense secretary as “an insult to the American people.”
The Washington Democrat appeared on MSNBC to discuss Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News personality and military veteran who’s the latest of Trump’s controversial cabinet picks. Strickland is a member of the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, which has jurisdiction over the defense department.
“The fact that … he’s even considered a nominee is appalling and an affront to the American people,” she told MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell Dec. 3.
Over the weekend, the Democratic Women’s Caucus posted a clip of the segment to social media, along with a caption echoing concerns about Hegseth’s past and qualifications.
Strickland, who represents Washington’s 10th Congressional District that extends from Tacoma to Olympia, further laid out her qualms with Hegseth on MSNBC. She referenced allegations of sexual assault against Hegseth and concerns that the conservative has a “drinking problem.”
Hegseth has denied he’s dealt with a drinking problem. He was accused of sexually assaulting a woman following a 2017 Republican convention in California, although he was not charged and he has denied wrongdoing.
Strickland further remarked on Hegseth’s loyalty to the president-elect.
“Donald Trump wants to do three things: He wants to weaponize, he wants to compromise and he wants to demoralize our national security apparatus and our intelligence apparatus,” Strickland said. “And what I see in this nomination is an insult to the American people.”
Reached for comment, Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy Parlatore, said that as a member of Congress, the speech and debate clause shields Strickland from being held accountable for defamatory or false statements.
“As she is not in the Senate and has no role in the confirmation process,” Parlatore continued, “her false and partisan comments are irrelevant to the process.”
A Trump transition spokesperson told McClatchy via email that Strickland “clearly doesn’t share President Trump’s vision for the world’s most ready and lethal armed forces.”
“But 76 million Americans, including Pete Hegseth, do, which is why they elected Donald Trump and Republicans to lead our country,” the spokesperson continued. “Pete’s decorated military service and perspective uniquely position him to be a game-changing leader for the Department of Defense, and President Trump looks forward to seeing him confirmed.”
During her MSNBC appearance, Strickland underscored what she sees as a “double standard” when it comes to Hegseth’s nomination. In her view, a Democratic president would never choose someone with as much baggage or who lacks the requisite qualifications.
The Democrat added that she doesn’t believe the Senate will confirm Hegseth.
Trump disagrees. The president-elect reportedly said Dec. 6 he’s confident that Hegseth will receive enough votes to lead the Pentagon.
Hegseth is meeting with GOP senators on Monday to drum up support, according to The Washington Post. He’s slated to speak with 20 such senators throughout the week.