Chuck Grassley on Pete Hegseth: ‘People want change’

As next week’s confirmation hearings for potential members of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet approach, Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley still is meeting with nominees ahead of the vote.

In a conference call with Iowa reporters Wednesday, Grassley said he is not publicly disclosing his position on candidates, including Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth, until next week.

Ahead of a meeting with Hegseth in the afternoon, Grassley told reporters that Trump’s Cabinet picks align with who voters chose in the last election.

“I'm very concerned about who it’s going to be, but the mandate of the election is people want change,” Grassley said. “Pete starts out with things that he says he knows is wrong with the (U.S.) Defense Department and he's going to change them, and that's the mandate with everything in government that Trump received in the last election.”

Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran and former Fox News host, faces allegations of sexual impropriety, financial mismanagement, public drunkenness and other personal misconduct, which he has denied.

Grassley said his office has heard from people urging him to either block or push through Hegseth’s nomination, but Grassley said he won’t consider allegations about Hegseth’s “personal life” unless anonymous sources come forward publicly.

“I want more proof. … If they don't have guts enough to come forward, I don't think I should consider them,” Grassley said. “I look forward to the Senate performing its due process, and that's why I'm meeting with him today.”

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, faced backlash late last year for her hesitancy to back Hegseth over his past comments on how he believes women should not serve in combat. After that Ernst, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard and a combat veteran, changed her tune and spoke more positively about Hegseth’s nomination.

Hegseth’s confirmation hearing is set for Jan. 14.

Private equity in health care

Grassley highlighted the findings of a bipartisan staff report released Tuesday that investigated private equity’s role in health care.

Alongside Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Grassley launched an investigation into how private equity investment in health care impacts patients and providers.

Grassley said he initially became interested in this issue after he heard of the rapid decline in the quality of patient care at Ottumwa Regional Health Center in Ottumwa since it went under private equity ownership in 2010.

The investigation reviewed more than 1 million pages of documents from multiple private equity firms, including Life Point Heath, which currently operates the Ottumwa hospital. Key findings show failures by the private equity firms to fulfill promises made to the hospital, including legally binding ones.

The report alleges these failures led to worsening conditions at the hospital, including inadequate staffing and declines in the quality of patient care.

“With better oversight and accountability, we can ensure the health care system best serves the needs of Iowans and all Americans,” Grassley said.