Pentagon Nominee Pledges Sobriety to Save Confirmation Chances
Successive Allegations of Alcohol Use and Sexual Harassment Put Higsmith's Political Future in Jeopardy Despite Crisis Management Attempts
December 5, 2024, 8:36 pm

Pentagon Nominee Pledges Sobriety to Save Confirmation Chances

بيت هيجسيث \ تعبيرية \ متداولة

Pressure mounted on Pete Higsmith, President-elect Donald Trump's Defense Secretary nominee, following allegations about strong alcohol odors emanating from him at workplace.

Higsmith, seeking to lead Pentagon, quickly pledged abstaining from alcohol if confirmed by Senate, highlighting his view of position's critical importance.

Republican Senator Kevin Kramer stated Wednesday possible support for Higsmith's nomination conditional on alcohol abstinence commitment.

The New Yorker investigations this week covered claims about Higsmith's alcohol addiction problem while heading Veterans Association.

Complaints documented multiple incidents of Higsmith's excessive alcohol consumption at work events, including group visit to Louisiana club.

California police last month revealed 2017 investigation records regarding sexual harassment allegations by Higsmith against woman in hotel room during Republican women's conference, where victim suspected drink tampering.

Expectations grow within President-elect's team of Higsmith's failed confirmation despite denying misconduct and absence of formal charges.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”