Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) criticized President-elect Donald Trump for nominating billionaires and people with problematic records to serve in his incoming administration.
In a House floor speech on Wednesday, McGovern argued that Trump was not fulfilling voters’ expectations with his nominations.
“I mean, it looks like the requirements to be in the Trump White House are that you either abuse women, or you’re an out-of-touch billionaire,” the Democratic lawmaker said. “What’s next? Are they going to replace FBI background checks with a Fox News screen test?”
McGovern noted that Trump’s nominees for commerce secretary and education secretary were both billionaires.
“His new attorney general pick. An election denier,” he pointed out. “The person he tapped to lead Health and Human Services? He thinks tap water turns kids gay.”
McGovern then addressed former Fox News host Pete Hegseth’s nomination to be defense secretary.
“I mean, this guy is probably dropping out momentarily,” he said. “Apparently, he drinks on the job and paid to cover up his sexual assault allegations. Even his mom doesn’t like him.”
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In a 2018 email, Hegseth’s mother called him an “abuser of women” after he was accused of sexual assault and cheating on his wife.
“Get some help and take an honest look at yourself,” she added.
On Wednesday, Hegseth’s mother told Fox News that she had written the email “out of love.”
“And about two hours later, I retracted it with an apology, but nobody’s seen that,” she said.
Watch the video below from C-SPAN.
