NEW: Iowa AG Sends Stern Message, Calls On Joni Ernst To Support Hegseth
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has called on Senator Joni Ernst to back President-elect Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, as the Senate considers his confirmation amid swirling misconduct allegations. Bird, a staunch Trump ally, issued her plea through an exclusive Breitbart op-ed, asserting the need for unity within the Republican ranks to confirm the President-elect’s cabinet picks.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) a key Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, remains undecided on whether to back Hegseth for the role of Secretary of Defense under the incoming administration of President-elect Trump. The committee is responsible for the initial evaluation and vote on the nomination. Ernst, whose vote is pivotal in the preliminary stages of Hegseth’s confirmation, revealed her reservations on Thursday to Fox News.
When asked if she supports Hegseth’s confirmation, Ernst said, “Well, I did have a very long, lengthy discussion with Pete yesterday, and I do appreciate his service to the nation. I also am a combat veteran, so we talked about a number of those issues, and we will continue with the vetting process. I think that that is incredibly important. So again, all I’m saying is we had a very frank and productive discussion and I know that we will continue to have conversation in the upcoming months.”
After remaining mum on giving a clear answer on his confirmation, Ernst elaborated, “I think for a number of our senators, they want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared, and that’s why we have to have a very thorough vetting process.”
WATCH:
“Iowans have made their voice clear,” Bird wrote, referencing Trump’s commanding electoral victory in the state as well as Ernst’s comments the day before. “In recent days, it’s become clear that D.C. politicians think they can ignore the voices of their constituents and entertain smears from the same outlets that have pushed out lies for years.”
“When voters select a president, they are selecting that president’s vision for a cabinet that will enact his agenda. On November 5, America voted for change, and for Washington to work for America – not the other way around,” she continued. “Trump has been building a qualified, talented, and powerful team to lead his America First agenda.”
There was never a doubt: Iowa is @realDonaldTrump country!! 🇺🇸💪 pic.twitter.com/Cc3dyacc4L
— Brenna Bird (@BrennaBird) November 6, 2024
Bird continued, “The Constitution gives senators the important responsibility for advice and consent and that’s what the confirmation hearings are for. It’s a chance for nominees to respond to criticism and make their case for why they are the right choice to lead cabinet agencies. What we’re witnessing in Washington right now is a Deep State attempt to undermine the will of the people. We must not let Washington kill nominations before the Constitutional confirmation process even begins.”
She finished, “Trump campaigned on delivering much-needed reform to Washington D.C. Tens of millions of Americans went into the ballot box, sick of paying taxes year after year, just to see the government fail to deliver on its responsibility to protect the border, defeat our adversaries, and secure economic prosperity. The president’s cabinet is essential to delivering on the president’s agenda. The American people have spoken, and our elected D.C. lawmakers should listen.”
With Trump’s first term set to begin in January, his administration’s ability to hit the ground running depends heavily on crucial early votes.