Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said that it is not the job of Republican senators to vet Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees.
Tuberville told CNN’s Manu Raju that it is not the job of Republican senators to further vet Pete Hegseth, Trump’s controversial pick to lead the department of defense, and suggested that is up to Democratic senators, according to a clip highlighted by Mediaite.
“Who are we to say that we’re a better vetter and picker of people than Donald Trump?” he asked.
The Alabama senator went even further to suggest that any criticism of Hegseth is an attack on Trump.
“Donald Trump did all the vetting they needed to do on Pete Hegseth,” he said. “And I just can’t believe we’ve have people on our side there saying, well, I’ve got to look at this. Got to look at that.”
He continued: “What they’re doing is they’re throwing rocks at Donald Trump. They’re not throwing them at Pete Hegseth, they’re throwing them at Donald Trump because they’re saying, well, we don’t believe you did the right vetting and we don’t believe he can do the job. Wait a minute. That’s not our job to do that. That’s the Democrats.”
When told by Raju that the role of the Senate is to provide “advise and consent” Tuberville responded: “We’re advise and consent. But that’s more the Democrats.”
Hegseth’s is facing serious allegations that threaten his confirmation. He has come under fire for some recent reports, including allegations of sexual assault, saying women should not serve in combat roles in the military, and a New Yorker story that said he was forced to step down from two nonprofit groups due to mismanagement of funds and alcohol abuse.
Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal (CT) called Tuberville’s comment “one of the most ridiculous statements I’ve ever seen or heard.”
“The Constitution says that every one of us must advise and consent on every nominee made by the president coming before us individually,” the senator continued.
“We take an oath, not to a president, but to the Constitution, and I think that any senator who says, ‘I’m just gonna vote in favor of whoever the president sends up because the president has vetted him enough’ is really violating their oath of office,” Blumenthal added.
In a statement responding to Blumenthal, Tuberville told The Hill that senators should give Trump the team he wants.
“Trump went 7-0 in battleground states. The GOP Senate went 1-4 in those same battleground states. Trump won the popular vote. The GOP House didn’t gain seats. This election was a mandate for President Trump,” he said. “Give him the team he and the American people are asking for and stop pretending this is business as usual.”
