Washington — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Defense Department, returned to Capitol Hill on Monday as he tries to shore up support among Senate Republicans as he faces sexual misconduct allegations , financial mismanagement of charities for veterans and excessive drinking.
Hegseth met Monday with at least two Republican senators who raised concerns about the allegations. In statements after the meetings, both Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina appeared more comfortable with Trump’s choice.
“While I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on the truth, not anonymous sources,” Ernst said.
Graham shared a similar sentiment about those who anonymously made accusations about the former Fox News personality’s behavior.
“The allegations made regarding the financial management of veterans service organizations and personal misconduct should only be considered by the committee if they are supported by testimony before Congress – and not by anonymous sources,” he said.
Hegseth has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Amid reports of his alleged behavior, several Republican senators spoke out said they found the allegations “disturbing,” including Graham.
Before meeting Hegseth on Monday, Ernst said she needed to hear more from him about his stance on women in combat and sexual violence in the military before deciding whether to support him. Ernst is a sexual assault survivor and military veteran.
She said Monday that she had received assurances from Hegseth about how both will be handled if he leads the Pentagon.
“I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process. After our encouraging conversations, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our military personnel – based on quality and standards. , no quotas – and who will prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual violence within the ranks,” her statement said.
