Congress

GOP Senator Flames Dems for ‘Cheating’ and Voting ‘Drunk’

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“And don’t tell me you haven’t seen it, because I know you have,” the Republican senator said.

Markwayne Mullin
Illustration by Eric Faison/The Daily Beast/Getty Images

Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin on Tuesday turned the tables on Democrats, who grilled Pete Hegseth over cheating and alcohol abuse allegations during the defense secretary nominee’s confirmation hearing.

“How many senators have showed up drunk to vote at night?” Mullin demanded after Democrat Sen. Tim Kaine’s fiery line of questioning. “Have any of you guys asked them to step down and resign from their jobs? And don’t tell me you haven’t seen it, because I know you have.”

Mullin also took aim at Sen. Elizabeth Warren for grilling the former Fox News host on whether he would take a job in the defense industry after leading the Pentagon, accusing her of hypocrisy for backing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

“We had to vote on a waiver because he [Austin] stepped off the board of Raytheon. But I guess that’s okay, because that’s a Democrat Secretary of Defense,” Mullin said.

The Oklahoma Republican went on to slam lawmakers for inquiring about whether infidelity in Hegseth’s marriages could be disqualifying for the Cabinet position, arguing that multiple politicians divorced spouses under similar circumstances.

“How many senators do you know have got a divorce before cheating on their wives? Did you ask them to step down? No, but it’s for show,” Mullin said. “You guys make sure you make a big show and point out the hypocrisy, because a man’s made a mistake, and you want to sit there and say that he’s not qualified.”

While some Republican lawmakers expressed reservations about voting for Hegseth shortly after his nomination, the party has largely rallied around Trump’s pick. No Democrats are expected to vote for Hegseth on the floor, with lawmakers slamming his past comments that women shouldn’t serve in combat.

Democrats have also expressed frustration over being blocked from accessing Hegseth’s FBI background file.

Top Republicans have signaled they believe Hegseth will have the support needed to be confirmed in a floor vote.

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