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Several Republican senators are pushing to see the FBI’s background check on Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s pick to be the next Secretary of Defense.
Pressure on Senate Armed Services Committee leaders indicates the former Fox News host still faces an uphill battle for confirmation despite the Trump team’s press to win over senators during the last few weeks
A congressional aide confirmed to The Hill that “a number” of senators are pushing to see the FBI’s background investigation of Hegseth, with “a handful of Republican senators” asking the panel’s ranking member, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), on it.
The politician was thefirst to reporton the effort, naming Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Thom Tillis (NC) as seeking Hegseth’s background report. Neither office responded to a request for comment from The Hill.
The Senate Armed Services Committee, which will oversee Hegseth’s confirmation, typically limits access to FBI background checks on nominees to its top two senators, currently Wicker and Chairman Jack Reed (DR.I. ). Lawmakers traditionally review FBI reports without staff present, then consult with the administration about whether to release the documents to other senators.
But with reports surfacing last month of sexual assault allegations against Hegseth, as well as several stories claiming he abused alcohol andmismanaged funds while leading two veterans groups— Democrats and some Republicans have pressed Wicker and Reed to release the FBI report more widely.
Hegseth has denied all allegations, particularly a sexual assault claim from a 2017 encounter that only came to light after his nomination. He says the meeting was consensual and that he has frequented Capitol Hill in recent weeks to make his case to senators.
While no Republican senators have spoken out against Hegseth, many have expressed a desire for more information about the allegations against him, as well as more clarity on past controversial comments he has made, including that women should not serve in combat roles.
Among them are GOP Sens. Collins, Joni Ernst (Iowa), Tillis and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska).
Although Republicans will hold 53 seats in the next Senate, Hegseth can only afford to lose three Republican votes if all Democrats and independents vote against him.
“I go back to the Kavanaugh hearing where it took a lot of time and additional background research to get one of those two to actually vote for Kavanaugh,” Tillis said last week, referring to the Court’s confirmation Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. “So there’s work to be done.”
The FBI’s investigation may be sped up to wrap up before Hegseth’s confirmation hearing, scheduled for Jan. 14. These investigations, which usually last weeks, examine a person’s personal and professional history through interviews with associates and a review of financial records and any previous legal cases. questions
Meanwhile, at least seven Senate Democrats — Sens. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Tim Kaine (Va.) Tammy Duckworth (Ill.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Kirsten Gillibrand ( NY) and Jacky Rosen (Nev.) – said they want more information about Hegseth’s views on women in the military and documents related to past allegations against him.
Ina lettersent to Trump’s team on Tuesday, the senators expressed “deep concerns about whether Pete Hegseth’s attitudes toward women, including allegations of sexual assault and harassment, disqualify him to be the next Secretary of Defense.”
