Hegseth told Megyn Kelly he thinks the allegations against him are part of a smear campaign by his opponents and are a “ridiculous narrative.”
Topline
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said she’s not ready to support Pete Hegseth as Defense secretary on Thursday, a setback for Hegseth’s strained Senate confirmation battle—as Hegseth insisted President-elect Donald Trump is still in his corner despite allegations of concerning drinking habits and sexual misconduct.TimelineWhat To Watch For
Hegseth, or any cabinet nominee that requires Senate approval, can afford to lose only three Republican votes to be confirmed for the job as the GOP will hold a slim 53-47 majority beginning next year. Other GOP senators have expressed support for Hegseth, including Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., who told Politico after meeting with him that he is a “strong nominee” who “pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power—not the current administration’s woke political agenda.”How Were The Sexual Assault Allegations Against Hegseth Made Public?
The sexual assault allegations first surfaced in a memo sent to Trump’s transition team from a woman who said she was friends with the accuser. The memo was obtained by multiple news outlets several days after Hegseth was nominated by Trump on Nov. 12.What Are The Allegations About Hegseth’s Drinking?
In addition to the NBC News report Tuesday in which his former Fox News colleagues raised concerns about his drinking—with two of them saying they smelled alcohol on him at least a dozen times before he went on air—The New Yorker published an article Sunday alleging he had been intoxicated at work in the past.
