Pete Hegseth seeks GOP support for defense secretary nomination amid past allegations

Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for defense secretary, met with GOP senators on Capitol Hill to gain support for his nomination. He was accompanied by Vice President-elect JD Vance. The meetings follow the release of a police report detailing a 2017 sexual assault allegation against Hegseth, which he denies, claiming the encounter was consensual. The Monterey County District Attorney's Office declined to file charges in 2018 due to insufficient evidence. Senators, including Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn, expressed support for Hegseth, with Hagerty comparing the allegations to those against Brett Kavanaugh. Critics have raised concerns about Hegseth's lack of national security experience and his views on women in combat roles.