Pete Hegseth Sworn In as Secretary of Defense After Vance’s Tie-Breaking Vote – One America News Network
OAN Staff Abril Elfi
8:52 AM – Saturday, January 25, 2025
Pete Hegseth has officially taken the oath of office as Secretary of Defense following his confirmation by the Senate.
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On Saturday morning, Hegseth was sworn in thanks to a close 51-50 tie-breaking vote by Vice President JD Vance.
The swearing-in ceremony was conducted by Vice President Vance.
President Donald Trump expressed his congratulations for Hegseth’s confirmation via a post on Truth Social.
“Congratulations to Pete Hegseth. He will make a great Secretary of Defense!” Trump shared on Truth Social Friday night.
His confirmation was closely watched after Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced on X that she would oppose Hegseth’s nomination.
“After thorough evaluation, I must conclude that I cannot in good conscience support his nomination for Secretary of Defense,” Murkowski stated on Thursday. “I did not make this decision lightly; I take my constitutional responsibility to provide advice and consent with the utmost seriousness.”
Senator Murkowski elaborated on her concerns about Hegseth’s “lack of experience” in executive roles, his previous comments regarding women in combat, and unverified allegations of alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct against him.
Despite these challenges, Hegseth has consistently denied all allegations.
As per Hegseth’s attorney, Tim Parlatore, the evidence collected by a California District Attorney’s office reportedly includes documentation demonstrating that the anonymous accuser had previously made false claims of sexual assault against another individual in a different jurisdiction. Parlatore is seeking the public release of these documents.
A spokesperson for the Trump administration asserted on Thursday that the “[22-page police report] supports what Mr. Hegseth’s attorneys have maintained. The incident was thoroughly investigated, and no charges were filed since the allegations were found to be unfounded.” Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni also acknowledged that her office could not proceed with charges as there was no evidence sufficient to meet the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard.
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