Overview

• Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, is accused of sexual assault, workplace misconduct, and excessive drinking, raising concerns about his qualifications.
• Hegseth has denied the allegations, including a 2017 sexual assault claim, which was settled financially, and has vowed to abstain from alcohol if confirmed.
• Key Republican senators, including Joni Ernst, face pressure to support Hegseth despite reservations, with Ernst's vote seen as pivotal given her advocacy for military sexual assault survivors.
• Democrats and some Republicans have criticized the FBI's background check process for Hegseth, citing incomplete investigations and insufficient vetting of key witnesses.
• Conservative groups and Trump allies are mounting aggressive campaigns to secure Hegseth’s confirmation, while some senators remain undecided amid allegations of intimidation tactics.