Hirono ripped for 'deranged' opening confirmation hearing question to Burgum: 'This lady has issues'

Democrat Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii faced mockery on social media on Thursday over her opening questions to Interior Secretary nominee Doug Burgum during his confirmation hearing. 

"As part of my responsibilities to ensure the fitness of nominees before any of the committees on which I sit, I ask the following two initial questions," Hirono said to Burgum on Thursday. "First is, since you became a legal adult, have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual nature?"

"No, senator, I have not," Burgum responded. 

"Have you ever faced discipline or entered into a settlement related to this kind of conduct?" Hirono then asked.

"I have not," Burgum said. 

Hirono, who has asked similar opening questions to several other nominees in the past, including Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth and Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi, was widely panned by conservatives on social media over the line of questioning. 

Henry Rogers, The Daily Caller's chief national correspondent, called Hirono "deranged" on X.

Hirono's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.