SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — Sen. Joni Ernst, a crucial vote on Pete Hegseth’s controversial nomination for defense secretary, said she is not ready to support him. She speaks out publicly as a survivor of sexual violence and an advocate for others.
Amid mounting questions about Hegseth’s chances of being confirmed to the Senate, the comments were the Iowa Republican’s most public and detailed expression yet of her reservations about supporting him amid allegations of misbehavior and excessive drinking. Hegseth has also questioned the role of women in combat.
Ernst spoke during a panel at the annual Reagan National Defense Forum at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, citing her advocacy before the Senate Armed Services Committee for survivors of military sexual trauma — and, frankly, her personal experience.
“I’m a survivor of sexual violence, so I’ve done a lot of work within the military on anti-sexual violence measures, so I’d like to hear a little more about that, and I’d like to hear about the role of women in our great American soldiers,” Ernst said on stage.
Ernst said she wanted Hegseth to have a fair and thorough review process with a public hearing, calling that “incredibly important.”
“I’m excited to sit down with him again, but there will be a very thorough vetting before he moves forward. So [I] I look forward to seeing him in front of the committee too – and I know he will be there and will have to answer some very tough questions.”
Hegseth was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017 and later reached a legal settlement with her — an incident in which he denies wrongdoing and has never been charged.
Asked whether Hegseth’s accuser should come forward, Ernst said: “I think there are ways the FBI will investigate this and bring it to the committee. So I trust that process and I look forward to that opportunity.”
During Saturday’s panel discussion on Middle East security, Rep. Patrick Ryan (D-N.Y.) argued that Hegseth’s controversial views on Islam would make him an ineffective defense secretary. Hegseth reportedly made anti-Muslim insults during a 2015 bar incident, promoted militant Christianity and had tattoos depicting Crusade-era symbolism.
“In an impartial way, I’ve tried to talk about the seriousness of this moment we’re in and Mr. Hegseth’s lack of seriousness about this job,” Ryan said.
‘We are now going to sit down with the Saudis… and the [future] Minister of Defense has insulted their entire way of life and their faith? That would be devastating,” he added.
Hegseth plans to spend next week on Capitol Hill, trying to win support from Republican senators, according to a Hegseth aide granted anonymity to share future plans.
Hegseth’s 21 rallies scheduled this week include two senators considered potential votes against him — Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) — as well as Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).
Trump reaffirmed his support for Hegseth this week, calling him a “WINNER” with “strong and deep” support. Hegseth has been meeting with Republican senators to shore up support as Trump weighs alternative candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Asked whether all Republican women might vote against Hegseth amid the sexual assault allegation, Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate GOP leadership, said , no.
“We are non-monolithic on a variety of issues,” she said.
Fischer said she didn’t expect Hegseth to drop out or for Trump to ask him to.
“If that is the case, I think it is important to hold a public hearing,” she said. “I think it’s important that the American people watch us in committee and see how we ask questions and what we focus on, and then watch him and see how he answers them, and then make a public vote in committee. And then we’ll see.”
Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) and a ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee said he is concerned about political pressure on his Republican colleagues, who care deeply about national defense.
“They are in a very difficult situation,” King said. “Here’s what concerns me: I saw a story where someone in the president-elect’s inner circle said that any Republican who gives us money will get primaries and Elon Musk will fund the primaries.”
Hegseth’s political relationships with fellow Republicans seem to rise and fall from day to day. More allegations could surface in the four and a half weeks before Trump takes office, but the FBI’s investigation into Hegseth is expected to be definitive, especially if it substantiates or expands the allegations against him.
“It seems like every two or three days there’s something new,” King said. “I am very concerned about what I have seen, and I do not want anyone to be compromised in terms of their ability to do the job, or to be compromised by actions they have taken in the past that lead to someone getting a hold of him.”
