Tense moments permeated the confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon, but one Democrat was slammed for his “despicable” questioning.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., went back and forth with the Defense Secretary nominee during Tuesday’s confirmation hearing, prompting many to call out the Democrat for crossing a line by bringing up Hegseth’s 7-year-old daughter in the proceedings.
The senator’s combative questioning centered on Hegseth’s marital history including once being accused of sexual assault in 2017.
“I was fully investigated and completely cleared,” the former Fox News host said of the allegation.
Senator Tim Kaine really did try to use Pete Hegseth’s 7 year old daughter against him, despicable
— Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) January 14, 2025
“So you think you are completely cleared because you committed no crime?” Kaine, a former vice presidential candidate, asked at one point.
“That’s your definition of cleared. You had just fathered a child two months before by a woman that was not your wife. I am shocked that you would stand here and say you’re completely cleared. Can you so casually cheat on a second wife and cheat on the mother of a child who had been born two months before? And you tell us you are completely cleared? How is that completely cleared?” Kaine continued berating the decorated combat veteran.
“Senator, her child’s name is Gwendolyn Hope Hegseth, and she’s a child of God,” Hegseth replied. “She’s 7 years old, and I am glad she’s here.”
“And you cheated on the mother of that child,” Kaine shot back. “Less than two months after that daughter was born, didn’t you?”
Despite Hesgeth’s response to the “false charges” and his statement that he is “grateful” for his “amazing” wife, Kaine continued his attack on the nominee, who has received two Bronze Star Medals for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“You’ve admitted that you had sex at that hotel in October 2017. You said it was consensual. Isn’t that correct?”
“I will allow your words to speak for themselves,” Hegseth said at one point during the heated exchange. “As I’ve acknowledged to everyone in this committee, I’m not a perfect person. I’m not claiming to be,”
Kaine jumped back in and went on to bring up accusations about Hegseth’s drinking which he also denied as “false.”
Later in the hearing, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., blasted Kaine’s line of questioning and hypocrisy.
He was not alone in his scathing criticism.
So proud of himself for using a man’s own child to publicly attack him
Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/MTNvrXOTDH
— Based Electrician⚡️🇺🇲 (@RyanHugeBrain) January 14, 2025
It’s funny how they pretend to have the moral high ground while also promoting degenerate things.
It’s disgusting.
— blakmac (@blakmaclives) January 14, 2025
Tim Kaine has a lot to say about Pete Hegseth’s conduct during his marriage
Here’s Tim Kaine campaigning with Doug Emhoff, who – while married – impregnated his nanny and forced her to get an abortion pic.twitter.com/0UJQkjQ3Ti
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) January 14, 2025
As I was reminded … Tim Kaine was Hillary Clinton’s running mate. Appears he could conveniently overlook the sexual improprieties of Bill Clinton. Double standards can be applied only if one stands to reap the benefit of the practice.
— quiet place (@MJ5984070762126) January 14, 2025
Democrats always bringing peoples’ CHILDREN into things!! 😡 It’s hateful, disgusting, and as the parent of a 10 year old child, I find it infuriating to the max.
— Christine Kobylarz 🙏🏻 🇺🇸 (@LadyWashin45) January 14, 2025
I bet if we open up Tim’s closet that a lot of skeletons would fall out.
— AmericanPapaBear (@AmericaPapaBear) January 14, 2025
Kaine…the little F head!