Tag: Decided

  • How this key senator decided to back Hegseth after last-minute allegations

    How this key senator decided to back Hegseth after last-minute allegations

    FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., whose vote cemented Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s confirmation last month, opened up about the effort to corroborate last-minute allegations against President Donald Trump’s nominee.

    “Anytime you have an allegation and somebody is willing to put it in sworn testimony, you owe it to the process to review it and not just dispose it out of hand,” the North Carolina Republican told Fox News Digital in an interview. 

    “And that’s exactly what I did. And then I arrived at the conclusion that I’d support Pete’s nomination”

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    In an interview with Fox News Digital, Sen. Thom Tillis walked through his thought process in the hours leading up to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s confirmation vote. (Reuters)

    Hegseth was confirmed after a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance, making the final margin 51-50. 

    Three Republicans — senators Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voted against Hegseth.

    Given the Republican conference’s 53-seat majority, nominees can only afford to lose three votes, assuming all Democrats are opposed and each senator is in attendance. 

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    Tillis’ decision on whether to back Hegseth was not disclosed until minutes before he cast his vote. If he became the fourth Republican to oppose Hegseth, the confirmation would have failed. 

    The senator asked Hegseth several additional questions after the new allegations surfaced and the hours until his confirmation vote wound down. 

    The nominee’s response letter, which proved to be to Tillis’ satisfaction, was shared on X by Hegseth during the vote. 

    Speaking on the subject with Fox News Digital, the senator explained he had “developed a reputation for completing due diligence” and that he takes his role seriously. 

    According to Tillis, he agreed to speak with Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle, before she filed a sworn affidavit alleging that he made his ex-wife Samantha fear for her safety, in addition to claims of alcohol abuse.

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    Danielle is not the sister of Hegseth’s ex-wife. She is the former wife of his brother. 

    The call between the senator and Danielle was about “what conceptually would be in the affidavit,” Tillis said.

    “And I said, ‘If that’s true, and it could be corroborated, then it would carry weight,’” Tillis recalled. 

    However, he said the lack of corroboration left the allegations without credibility. 

    “I could never speak directly to a person who could corroborate the testimony of one person,” he said. 

    Sen. Thom Tillis

    Tillis cemented Hegseth’s confirmation with his vote. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

    After Hegseth’s confirmation, it was reported that sources said Tillis had “personally assured” Danielle that if she provided the affidavit, it would be significant and might persuade Republicans to oppose the defense secretary nominee, according to The Wall Street Journal. 

    Asked about the report, Tillis emphasized that he gave the caveat that it must be corroborated in his conversation with Danielle. 

    “Corroboration means at least two people have to be involved, and they have to be involved in the event, not a bystander. And I was unable to. I attempted to do it, but I was unable to get to that point. And, therefore, I had to make the same judgment that I did with the other allegations,” he explained. 

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    Hegseth outside the Pentagon with joint chief of staff

    Hegseth was sworn in shortly after being confirmed.  (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

    Tillis wouldn’t divulge whether Danielle or her attorney suggested she had been a witness to the alleged events. 

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    “I’m not going to get into those discussions because I do know that my conversation was leaked a couple of hours after I had it on Sunday. Clearly, I would have no reason to do it. But I don’t leak private conversations. I don’t even discuss them at any level of detail,” he said.

    Multiple requests for comment to Danielle’s attorney, Leita Walker, from Fox News Digital went unanswered. 

  • When and Where Is Next Kumbh Mela After 2025 Mahakumbh? How Is the Location Decided? Know Dates, Pilgrimage Sites and Other Important Details For the Sacred Festival

    When and Where Is Next Kumbh Mela After 2025 Mahakumbh? How Is the Location Decided? Know Dates, Pilgrimage Sites and Other Important Details For the Sacred Festival

    The Kumbh Mela is one of the most significant and sacred Hindu pilgrimages. The event draws millions of devotees from across the globe. Apart from devotees, tourists and travellers from around the world also take part in the event and witness the rituals, traditions, and customs associated with the Kumbh Mela. The Maha Kumbh Mela, which takes place once every 144 years, is currently underway in Prayagraj, and it will continue until February 26. While the Maha Kumbh Mela occurs once in 144 years, the Purna Kumbh Mela happens once every 12 years, the Ardh Kumbh Mela takes place once every six years, and the Kumbh Mela is held once every four years. In addition, the Magh Mela, also called Chhota Kumbh, is held once every year during the Magh month in Prayagraj. Maha Kumbh Returns After 144 Years: Why Is Kumbh Mela 2025 Special? Significance of ‘Deity’s Folly,’ Mythology and Other Details To Celebrate the Grand Festivities in Prayagraj.

    Each Kumbh Mela is held at one of the four holy sites, which are Prayagraj, Ujjain, Haridwar, and Nashik. The location and dates of the event depend on the celestial alignment of the sun, moon, and the planets according to Hindu astrology. During the Kumbh Mela, devotees take a holy dip at the banks of sacred rivers. This tradition is believed to help one attain salvation and freedom from sin. So, when is the next Kumbh Mela? Here’s all you need to know about the event.

    When Is the Next Kumbh Mela?

    Two Kumbh Melas will take place in 2027; one is the Ardh Kumbh Mela, and the other is known as the Kumbh Mela.

    Kumbh Mela 2027 Locations

    The Ardh Kumbh Mela 2027 will take place in Haridwar, and the Kumbh Mela 2027 will take place in Nashik. For the Haridwar Ardh Kumbh Mela, devotees will take a holy dip in the River Ganges. For the Nashik Kumbh Mela, devotees will take a holy dip in the River Godavari.

    Kumbh Mela 2027 Dates

    The tentative Nashik Kumbh Mela 2027 dates are July 14, 2027, to September 25, 2027. The dates of the Haridwar Ardh Kumbh Mela 2027 are yet to be announced. The exact dates of the next Kumbh Mela can vary, and it will depend on the alignment of the planets and the sun and moon. It is better to check the exact dates closer to the event.

    How Is the Kumbh Mela Location Decided?

    The dates and location of the Kumbh Mela are determined based on the planets positions. Religious leaders, akharas, and astrologers meet and decide the next Kumbh Mela’s location. It is usually held at one of the four sacred places, which include Nashik, Ujjain, Haridwar, and Prayagraj. In Hindu astrology, when the sun is in Capricorn and Jupiter in Taurus, the Maha Kumbh Mela is held in Prayagraj, on the banks of the sacred River Ganga.

    When Jupiter is in Aquarius and the sun in Aries, the Kumbh is held in Haridwar, on the banks of the Ganga. When Jupiter and the sun are in Leo, the Kumbh Mela is held on the banks of the River Godavari in Nashik, Maharashtra, and it is believed that when Jupiter is in Leo and the sun is in Aries, then the Kumbh Mela is held on the banks of the River Shipra, also known as Kshipra, in Ujjain. Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Start and End Dates in Prayagraj: What Are the Six Shahi Snan Dates? Know Important Mahakumbh Mela Bathing and Spiritual Rituals To Mark the Grand Festival in Uttar Pradesh.

    The Kumbh Mela is very significant as it is believed that taking a holy dip in the sacred waters of the rivers leads to salvation. The event is a time for spiritual growth, reaffirming their faith and blending tradition and devotion in an extraordinary celebration.

    (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 29, 2025 02:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).