'I’ve never paid hush money': CNN’s Tapper fact checks GOP senator on Hegseth allegations
04 December 2024
Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) on Wednesday defended Donald Trump's defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, amid the Fox News host's piling sexual assault and alcohol abuse allegations.
CNN's Jake Tapper asked the Missouri senator why he's not concerned by the Trump pick's past.
"If a track record of numerous infidelities and alleged sexual misconduct, and alleged problems with alcohol, that he's either denied or said doesn't represent him anymore — this is who he is," Tapper began. "Would you hire somebody that that had these descriptions about who he was to run your office given what we know is a fact and the allegations? I mean, do you not really have any concerns?"
READ MORE: Why this Dem senator is 'considering voting yes on DeSantis' to replace Hegseth
Schmitt replied, "Well, you kind of mix two words there together there, Jake, which is the fact of the allegations. Let's look at these in two different buckets. The first is the 2017 incident that you referenced. The prosecutor — the female prosecutor — decided not to move forward with charges. I'd be interested to see as a former prosecutor myself — attorney general of Missouri — what other surrounding documents and memoranda might exist that related to that decision not to charge."
The GOP lawmaker continued, "And then secondly, now you have again, a bunch of anonymous folks not even coming forward, who are in the shadows claiming something. And I just don't think that's a that's a reason why you would dismiss somebody from a very important role like this.
Tapper replied, "Well, I said the facts and the allegations, because the facts of the infidelities of how he has run his personal life are just facts, and frankly, as a married man and a father, absolutely disgraceful. But beyond that, there are these allegations he paid hush money to his accuser in California. I've never paid hush money to anybody."
Schmitt concluded, "Well, he settled a lawsuit that, again, the underlying charges were deemed by a prosecutor as baseless, and those are the facts. But again, people are entitled to ask these questions. He's entitled to give an answer, and he's answering those questions."
READ MORE: Here’s who Trump might pick for defense secretary if Hegseth withdraws
Watch the video below or at this link.