UltraViolet on the Senate’s Vote to Confirm Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, January 24, 2025
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com
UltraViolet on the Senate’s Vote to Confirm Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary
Statement from Shaunna Thomas, co-founder and executive director of UltraViolet Action, the nation’s largest online feminist organization:
“We are grateful that nearly half the Senate, including every Democrat and Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, opposed Pete Hegseth’s nomination for Secretary of Defense.
“Over the last few weeks, there have been serious concerns raised about Pete Hegseth, including accusations of sexual harassment and assault, allegations of alcohol abuse, and his troubling record on fiscal mismanagement of veterans’ organizations. Most importantly, his public stance on women in combat raises serious concerns about his commitment to our military’s readiness and the women who contribute to the preparedness and lethality of our armed forces.
“As of 2022, women made up 17.5% of the active-duty US military, which is equal to about 229,000 service members. Already, Hegseth has undermined nearly one out of every five active military personnel with his personal behavior and public stances on women in combat.
“Our standing concerns about Hegseth’s fitness to lead the Department of Defense were underscored this week in the wake of his former sister-in-law submitting an affidavit to the Senate stating that his behavior caused his second wife to fear for her safety. Just last night, AP reported that Hegseth had paid $50,000 to the woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017. Given the significant scope of the Secretary of Defense role, there should be no shadow of a doubt that our nominee is fit to lead and protect the safety of all defense employees and the American people.
“The only certainty we have in Pete Hegseth is that he is unfit to lead. Putting him in charge of our country’s military puts all of us in danger. Today every member of the Senate was asked to make a choice: Will they put the safety of our country first and block Hegseth’s confirmation or follow Trump blindly by emboldening a Fox News pundit who disrespects women and veterans to run our armed forces. The Senate has made its decision, now history will remember.”
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