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A key senator on the Armed Services Committee says he’s standing with the president donald Trump’s Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth dismissed what he called “anonymous sources with ulterior motives” who question his character.
Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., criticized in a statement Wednesday recent reports of a confidential briefing on the FBI background investigation of Hegseth as “blatantly inaccurate and factual”.
“It is disturbing that a sensitive and long-standing process used by committee leadership to vet presidential staff is being litigated in the press by anonymous sources with ulterior motives,” Wicker said, adding that he has received three detailed briefings and separate on the FBI’s background investigation.
Wicker was responding to a CNN report that cited two sources familiar with the matter as saying that Hegseth’s ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth, gave a statement to the FBI about Hegseth’s alleged drinking. The outlet said one of the sources said Samantha Hegseth told the FBI, “He drinks more often than not.”
HEGSETH’S LAWYER DENOUNCES EX’S “DEFECTIVE AND QUESTIONABLE AFFIDAVIT”
Pete Hegseth, left, President Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, shakes hands with Speaker Roger Wicker, R-Miss. following his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Wicker says to continue stand by Hegseth.
“After this thorough review, I am firm in my assessment that the nominee, Mr. Hegseth, is ready to be the next Secretary of Defense and that the allegations unfairly impugning his character do not stand up to scrutiny,” said the senator
Pete Hegseth appears at the end of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Wicker said Hegseth has Trump’s confidence and the support of Senate Republicans, and called on the Senate to confirm the nominee “as soon as possible” during this “precarious national security time.”
‘DESPERATE ATTEMPT’: SENATORS RECEIVE AFFIDAVIT WITH ALLEGATIONS ABOUT HEGSETH’S FORMER MARRIAGE
Hegseth has faced controversy throughout his career nomination process.
On Tuesday, Fox News obtained an affidavit from Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, who claims he has an alcohol abuse problem and sometimes made his ex-wife, Samantha, fear for the your safety Danielle Hegseth was married to Pete Hegseth’s brother. She is not the sister of Samantha, Pete Hegseth’s second wife.
But Danielle Hegseth added that she never witnessed any abuse, physical or sexual, from Pete against Samantha.
Samantha Hegseth has also denied any physical abuse in a statement first reported by NBC News.
“There was no physical abuse in my marriage. This is the only additional statement I will make to you. I have let you know that I do not and will not discuss my marriage with Pete. Please respect that decision,” she said. informed he said
Fox News Digital’s Julia Johnson and Fox News’ Tyler Olson, Kelly Phares and Daniel Scully contributed to this report.
