Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., accused Senate Democrats of "character assassination" against Pete Hegseth, telling Newsmax on Thursday that the latest accusation levied against the defense secretary nominee is "very staged" and "very timed."
Marshall joined "Wake Up America" to discuss a Tuesday report that Hegseth was abusive to his second wife to the point she feared for her safety. Hegseth has denied the allegations, the latest trotted out by Democrats in an effort to upend his confirmation vote, Marshall said.
"This is character assassination. First, it was anonymous sources, and now the person they're referring to, his second wife says, 'No, this isn't true.' Here's this estranged sister-in-law who's coming out of nowhere to talk about this. This was very staged. It was very timed. The Democrats waited till this moment," Marshall said. "But I just want to reassure your listeners that what Pete Hegseth is going to do is address two big problems in our military: He's going to be the best recruiter the military has ever seen, and he's going to address the morale."
Marshall added, "I think Pete gets through. It's going to be tight, but I think he gets through, and he's going to be a great secretary of defense."
Marshall was asked about an Axios report Wednesday that former Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is one of three Senate Republicans who will not vote for Hegseth's confirmation. If that comes to fruition, Hegseth's confirmation vote would be a 50-50 split.
"I don't know what Sen. McConnell's reasoning is for this, but regardless, this is why it's great to have control of the White House, that [Vice President] J.D. Vance is going to come in and break that tie. I'll let Leader McConnell speak for himself," Marshall said. "I fully support Pete Hegseth. Fifty of us are going to support him. We'll get him across the finish line, and then let's make America — let's make the military — great again. And that's what Pete's going to do."
Marshall also addressed his Defining Male and Female Act that he introduced in November.
"Well, I think we pass the legislation, it can't be undone. But this is a 95% issue. When I survey Kansans, 95% of Kansans do not want boys competing in girls' sports. They don't want boys in their daughters' locker room," Marshall said. "So for the Democrats to hang on to this issue is just astounding. But look, I'm a physician, I'm an obstetrician; for over 5,000 times, I held up a baby and said, 'This is a boy, this is a girl.' God makes us that way, one or the other. Anything different is a slap in the face of God."
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Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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