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Hegseth confronts allegations of misconduct as senators grill Trump’s choice for Pentagon chief
By LISA MASCARO, TARA COPP and MATT BROWNUpdated 7:35 PM CST, January 14, 2025
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, vowed Tuesday to foster a “warrior culture” at the Pentagon and confronted allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking and questions about his derisive views of women in combat during a heated Senate confirmation hearing.
Hegseth repeatedly deflected the various misconduct allegations and instead focused on his own military experience in the Army National Guard as senators determine whether the combat veteran and former TV news show host is fit to lead the U.S. military.
“It’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm. A change agent,” Hegseth said in his opening remarks.
Asked directly about the sexual assault allegation, Hegseth dismissed it as a “smear campaign,” as he did in response to a rapid-fire series of questions about his personal behavior and complaints of drinking on the job. He has vowed not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon. But pressed about his marital infidelity, Hegseth acknowledged, “I am not a perfect person.”
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