Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice for defense secretary, faces scrutiny over past allegations in a Senate hearing this Tuesday.
The hearing is happening Tuesday morning, and it’s the first time one of Trump’s Cabinet nominees will be grilled by Congress. Hegseth, who used to be on Fox News and has served in the Army, is stepping into the spotlight.
He’s got some heavy baggage, though. There are allegations against him, including sexual assault and financial mismanagement from his time running a veterans’ group. He’s denied all of it, but it’s definitely going to come up during the hearing.
Trump is backing him up, saying he’s got Hegseth’s back. But with the Senate split, he can’t afford to lose too many Republican votes. Some senators, especially women like Joni Ernst, are keeping a close eye on him.
There’s also a past incident involving a female staffer that’s raising eyebrows. She accused him of blocking her from leaving his hotel room, which he claims was consensual. It’s a messy situation, and you can bet it’ll be a hot topic during the hearing.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has already said Hegseth’s background is “deeply troubling.” It sounds like it’s going to be a tough day for him in front of the Senate.
