WASHINGTON − Pete Hegseth, a veteran, former host of Fox News, and President-elect Donald Trump’s selection for the Pentagon’s leadership, is set to undergo a Senate hearing on Tuesday, which is anticipated to focus on his attitude towards women and his temperament.

With a narrow majority in the Senate, Republicans can only afford a few dissenting votes if Hegseth hopes to be approved. Senator Roger Wicker, the Mississippi Republican chairing the Armed Services Committee, has indicated that Hegseth stands a good chance to become the 29^th secretary of defense.

Concerns about Hegseth’s suitability for the position have been raised by Democrats. Senator Jack Reed from Rhode Island, the leading Democrat on the committee, met with Hegseth on January 8 but expressed doubts about his capability to manage the vast Pentagon and its national security responsibilities.

The former co-host of “Fox & Friends” is viewed as one of the most precarious of Trump’s Cabinet nominations since former Representative Matt Gaetz from Florida stepped away from consideration following his nomination for the Justice Department in November.

Hegseth faces allegations of sexual assault from a 2017 incident he claimed was consensual, which resulted in no criminal case, alongside reports of possible alcohol misuse.

“There are significant character issues related to his behavior that need to be evaluated,” Reed stated in an interview.

“Most importantly, there is a fundamental question regarding his loyalty to the Constitution, rather than to any political party or individual. He must prove that his commitment to the Constitution surpasses any personal allegiances,” Reed added in a statement to YSL News.

Wicker had a discussion with Hegseth regarding his nomination and shared his foreign policy and defense priorities with him last month.

“I will continue to support the nominees of the president-elect,” Wicker declared in a news announcement. Wicker’s office did not respond to a request for further comment.

At 44, Hegseth enters this critical Senate Armed Services Committee interview with a background as a media figure and directorship in nonprofit veterans organizations.

His goal: to become the chief executive officer of the $850 billion annual Defense Department. Senators are expected to seek clarity from Hegseth regarding his remarks about women in combat, accusations of sexual assault, and issues surrounding alcohol consumption.

Any of these aspects might have previously hindered candidates aiming to oversee the Pentagon’s 2.3 million personnel. For instance, an incident reported by YSL News in 2019 regarding Hegseth’s tumultuous personal life led to the resignation of then-acting defense secretary Patrick Shanahan.

Typically, defense secretaries like Trump’s first, retired Marine Corps General Jim Mattis, are established figures with extensive experience in military, governmental, or private sectors. This time, however, Trump has opted for an outsider who resonates with his unconventional approach.

Trump will be unable to nominate Cabinet members until his inauguration on January 20. Consequently, the purpose of Tuesday’s hearing will primarily be to collect information, as stated by Reed. The committee will vote on his nomination later.

Trump’s transition team has not yet replied to requests for comment.

On Tuesday, senators will have the opportunity to question Hegseth about his past in a public forum.

Gender Issues in the Military and Assault Allegations

Hegseth has initially questioned — then retracted — the role of women in combat positions, which have been accessible to them for over ten years. Currently, women represent about 18% of the military’s personnel.

“It hasn’t improved our effectiveness, it hasn’t made us more lethal, and it has complicated fighting,” Hegseth stated regarding the presence of women on the front lines during a podcast on November 7.

Female veterans and military professionals strongly criticized Hegseth’s statements. Lory Manning, a retired Navy captain with over 25 years of service, warned that the military might face a recruitment crisis if all combat roles currently held by women were to be cut back.

“If they reduce women, even in specific job areas, they’d need to recruit less qualified men and relax some standards just to bring them in,” she said.

“And we might even need to reinstate the draft, I expect,” she suggested.

Under pressure, including from Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois who was injured in combat in Iraq, Hegseth later softened his stance after Trump’s nomination.

“We support all women serving in our military today, who perform excellently in various roles, including combat, and have done so for a significant period,” Hegseth stated to reporters as he visited senators on Capitol Hill.

Duckworth has publicly declared that Hegseth is the “least qualified nominee ever selected for this position.”

Another Republican on the committee, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, who is also a combat veteran, has not stated her position on Hegseth’s nomination yet.

On January 6, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, a member of the Armed Services Committee, sent Hegseth a 33-page letter requiring him to address numerous inquiries.

The 2017 Sexual Assault Accusation

Hegseth’s behavior towards women is one of Warren’s key concerns: “How many times have you faced accusations of sexually harassing or assaulting someone?” Warren queried in her letter. A controversial sexual encounter in 2017 involving Hegseth lies at the heart of this question.

Reports allege that a woman accused Hegseth of sexual assault during a hotel stay in California in 2017. According to the Monterey Police Department record, she claimed to have vague recollections of the incident but asserted that she had repeatedly said “no,” and noted that Hegseth had blocked her from leaving by standing in front of her with his body.

Hegseth described to investigators that he had been “buzzed” but not drunk at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa before the encounter, which he has insisted was consensual. This situation led to a confidential financial settlement with the woman, but no criminal charges were filed.

Hegseth’s treatment of women was further scrutinized after The New York Times revealed an email sent from his mother to him during his divorce from his second wife, Samantha Deering.

“You are an abuser of women – this is the harsh truth,” wrote Penelope Hegseth, accusing her son of “dishonesty, infidelity, betrayal, belittling, and degrading” women. Shortly after, she appeared on Fox News to defend him, stating her son is “not the man he was seven years ago.”

Alcohol Consumption

Hegseth’s alcohol usage is another topic likely to arise during Tuesday’s hearing, following inquiries made by Warren.

In early December, Hegseth vowed to abstain from alcohol entirely if he is confirmed. He made this promise in response to multiple reports detailing a history of heavy drinking often associated with his professional engagements.

A portion of an article in The New Yorker referenced an internal whistleblower’s report that claimed Hegseth was frequently intoxicated while managing the nonprofit organization Concerned Veterans for America. The story mentioned an incident where he had to be physically carried out of one of the organization’s events due to intoxication. Sources indicated that he was removed from the group due to his drinking habits during work hours.

Six former co-workers from Fox News reported to The Washington Post that they had witnessed Hegseth drinking or being intoxicated at work-related events.

Hegseth has denied these allegations.

Senator Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma and a committee member who has assisted Hegseth in preparing for the hearing, confidently stated, “Pete’s going to handle things quite well.”

“The man has seen combat,” Mullin remarked. “He has experienced gunfire. He’ll be calm and manage the situation effectively.”