Joni Ernst refused to meet with Hegseth’s sexual assault accuser: report

On Monday, the night before confirmation hearings began for Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s controversial nominee for defense secretary, The New Yorker reported that Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) — a tie-breaking vote on the Armed Services Committee — turned down an offer for a private meeting with the woman who paid Hegseth to settle a sexual assault lawsuit.

The New Yorker Jane Mayer cites three sources familiar with the overtures to Ernst’s office; Ernst’s office did not respond to her requests for an invitation, she added.

In a phone call and emails with Rolling Stone On Tuesday afternoon, Ernst’s office objected The New Yorker Report. Ernst’s communications director, Palmer Brigham, wrote in an email: “(Ernst) did not decline an invitation – because she did not receive or decline one.” Brigham further emphasized that no one in Ernst’s office had been asked to meet to negotiate with the woman in question.

Despite his protests Rolling StoneErnst’s office has not disputed the facts of the story The New Yorker.

“The New Yorker “I spoke with several people who were aware of an offer to get Senator Ernst to meet with Hegseth’s accuser,” a representative told the magazine Rolling Stone. “Senator Ernst’s office has not responded to repeated questions from The New Yorker about her refusal to speak to the alleged victim, and no one in her office has since requested a correction to the article. We stand by our reporting.”

Ernst, a veteran and sexual assault survivor who built a reputation as an advocate for female service members and was a key sponsor of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022, is considered a key voter on the Armed Services Committee with the power to secure Hegseth’s confirmation decide or fail.

Ernst initially seemed unwilling to support Hegseth, especially given reports that he had paid off a woman who accused him of rape. The former National Guardsman turned Fox News host was accused in 2017 of sexually assaulting a woman at a Republican women’s conference in Monterey, California. The woman filed a police report after undergoing a forensic examination for sexual assault at a hospital. No criminal charges were ever filed in this case. Hegseth denied any wrongdoing but admitted paying the woman an undisclosed amount of money out of fear that disclosing the incident “would result in his immediate termination from Fox,” his lawyer said. (Hegseth did not disclose the allegation to the Trump transition team before his nomination became public late last year.)

The New Yorker reported that Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) also declined an offer to speak with Hegseth’s accuser. Senator Collins’ press secretary, Blake Kernen, confirmed that the senator had been approached by “a third party” – a person who, she stressed, was not a representative of the accuser, “legal or otherwise” – but who had offered to to arrange a meeting with the woman.

“The senator received a request from a third party regarding a possible meeting. After the initial discussion, there was no follow-up,” Kernen said in a statement. “Senator Collins believes that if a person has allegations about a candidate that they believe are relevant, those allegations should be presented to the committee that will consider the nomination.” (Unlike Ernst, Collins is not in the Armed Services committee that will consider whether or not to move forward with Hegseth’s nomination.)

Ernst seems to have warmed to the idea of ​​supporting the former Fox & friends After several meetings with Hegseth and threats from supporters of President Trump, the weekend host is set to lead the largest federal agency.

At Tuesday’s confirmation hearings, as Hegseth faced difficult questions about his qualifications, his tattoos and his relationship with alcohol, Ernst threw him some of the mildest softballs. “As Secretary of Defense, will you appoint a senior official dedicated to sexual assault prevention and response?” she asked.

“Senator, as we discussed, yes, I will,” Hegseth replied.

This story has been updated with comments from Ernst’s office The New Yorker.