Kaine expects more hearings after latest Hegseth Signal scandal

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine remains firmly opposed to Pete Hegseth’s leadership and expects additional hearings on the defense secretary’s latest Signal scandal.

Kaine and fellow Virginia Democrat U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, have both called for Hegseth’s resignation after the defense secretary revealed sensitive military information with unvetted civilians via private group chat not once but twice since his appointment.

“I see one gaffe after the next,” Kaine told The News Virginian Friday after a tour of the Daikin Applied HVAC plant in Verona.

Kaine said he respects Hegseth’s previous military service — Hegseth is a former Army National Guard officer — but he does not believe he has shown good judgment.

On March 15, Hegseth was caught sharing the details of U.S. military operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen on the Signal open-source messaging app in a group chat that included top Trump administration officials — and, inadvertently, Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine. This past week, it came to light that around that same time Hegseth shared similar details in a separate Signal group chat that included his wife, brother and an attorney.

Despite rumors, the White House has denied it is looking to replace Hegseth.

“He’s doing a great job — ask the Houthis how he’s doing,” President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday.

Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing and said reports he is on his way out are untrue.

“This is what the media does, they take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people, ruin their reputation. It’s not going to work with me,” he told reporters at the same event Monday.

Kaine was a blistering interrogator of Hegseth during a Senate confirmation hearing in January, hitting the nominee hard on his past infidelity and public drunkenness.

Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, anticipates holding additional hearings on the latest Hegseth controversy when the Senate returns next week from recess.

Kaine said he toured the Daikin Applied plant in Verona Friday as part of a statewide economic development tour. Kaine said the tour has given him a renewed appreciation of how Trump’s tariffs are affecting the Virginia economy, from small bakeries in the northern Shenandoah Valley to the the world’s largest HVAC manufacturer in Verona.

“The pie tins are made in Canada,’’ Kaine said of the north Shenandoah bakery. “Every company has some component coming from another place.”

He said the public does not realize how much Virginia farmers are exporting chickens, soybeans and other products.

“Because of this tariff spat they will pay more,” he said.

The senator said upcoming federal budget discussions will be critical. Kaine wants a solid defense bill, and said he has heard much during his recent travels about potential cuts to the federal Medicaid program.

“I will fight against unnecessary budget cuts,’’ said Kaine, who said that includes avoiding the Republican Party’s threatened cuts to Medicaid.