What kind of misconduct should disqualify Cabinet nominees? What Americans say in poll

Cabinet nominees are subjected to intense scrutiny — both in government and the media — leading up to and during the Senate confirmation process.

Throughout this vetting period, instances of misconduct — from minor slip-ups to major crimes — have occasionally surfaced.

Now, as several of President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees have been accused of wrongdoing, the question is: which misdeeds are disqualifying?

According to a new YouGov poll, most Americans believe there are numerous acts or allegations that should sink a nominee’s prospects.

The poll, conducted between Nov. 22 and 27, sampled 1,125 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of 4.1 percentage points.

When presented with a list of 11 issues that could tarnish a nominee — including past criminal convictions and allegations of sexual assault — a majority of respondents said that 10 should be disqualifying.

For example, 70% of respondents said that links to extremist groups should be enough to disqualify a nominee in the Senate. The same share said that allegations of underage sex should be disqualifying.

Additionally, 66% of respondents said a nominee’s prospects should be torpedoed if there are allegations of links to hostile foreign governments. And 63% said the same of financial conflicts of interest.

Following these were: allegations of sexual assault (62%), allegations of domestic violence (61%), past criminal convictions (61%) and allegations of financial misconduct (59%).

A further 58% of respondents said that lack of relevant experience should be disqualifying, and 51% said the same for a history of substance abuse.

In contrast, under half of respondents, 35%, said that being a family member of the president should preclude a nominee from being confirmed in the Senate.

There were also significant differences in responses between Republicans and Democrats, with the former being more lenient than the latter.

For example, 84% of Democrats said that allegations of having sex with a minor should rule out a nominee, while 59% of Republicans said the same. Additionally, 83% of Democrats said that allegations of sexual assault should be disqualifying, while less than half of Republicans, 45%, said the same.

Further, while 74% of Democrats said that lacking the relevant experience should be enough to disbar a nominee, just 46% of Republicans said the same.

The poll comes after several of Trump’s nominees have faced allegations of misconduct.

Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, has been accused of sexual assault and substance abuse. And former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump’s first nominee for attorney general, similarly faced sexual misconduct allegations. He withdrew his name from consideration in November.

The poll also comes amid an era when more Cabinet nominees have withdrawn from the confirmation process — in part because of increased media scrutiny and hyperpartisanship, experts previously told McClatchy News.

This story was originally published December 5, 2024 at 1:55 PM with the headline "What kind of misconduct should disqualify Cabinet nominees? What Americans say in poll."