Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) pointed out the “hypocritical” way Democratic senators questioned Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth during his confirmation hearing.

Hegseth, who President-elect Trump nominated to lead the Pentagon during his upcoming term, faced a series of intense questions from Democratic senators on the Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing Tuesday.

“I think it’s so hypocritical of senators, especially on the other side, to talk about his qualifications,” Mullin said of his Democratic colleagues before he began questioning Hegseth. “And yet your qualifications are no better.”

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Senator Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 in Washington, DC, USA. (Al Drago)

The Oklahoma Republican then pointed out that Democrats questioned Hegseth about claims he denied that the defense nominee showed up to work drunk.

Mullin disputed claims about Hegseth’s character, claiming that elected members of the Senate had previously shown up drunk to cast their votes.

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“Senator Kaine, or I guess I’ll use the senator from Virginia, starts bringing up the fact: What if you showed up to your job drunk? How many senators would have shown up drunk at night to vote?” Mullin stormed off, sparking audible laughter from some in the room. “Did any of you ask her to step down and step down from her job? And don’t tell me you didn’t see it, because I know you did.”

As Hegseth underwent his third hour of questioning, the senator continued to call out Democratic members.

Pete Hegseth, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill on January 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Allison Robbert)

“And how many senators do you think have gotten divorced because they cheated on their wives? Have you asked her to resign? No,” Mullin said. “You make sure you put on a big show and point out the hypocrisy because one man made a mistake and you want to sit there and say he’s not qualified. Tell me a joke. It’s so ridiculous that you call yourself this higher standard. You forget you’re looking at a big plank.

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Before beginning his questioning, Mullin thanked Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer, for “loving him despite this mistake.”

“The only reason I’m here and not in prison is because my wife loves me too. I’ve changed, but I’m not perfect,” he said.