Senate Majority Leader Confident in Hegseth’s Defense Secretary Confirmation

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has privately assured President-elect Donald Trump that Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, has the necessary votes to be confirmed by the Senate, according to three sources familiar with the matter. Thune, however, emphasized that the confirmation process would be fair and thorough, with nominees required to make their case before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host and military veteran, is scheduled to face his confirmation hearing on January 14. His nomination has drawn scrutiny due to allegations of past sexual misconduct and concerns about his management of a veterans’ organization. An unidentified woman accused Hegseth of sexual assault in a Monterey, California, hotel room in 2017. Hegseth denied the allegations, claiming the encounter was consensual, and no charges were filed. The two parties reached a confidential financial settlement in 2023.

In addition to the sexual misconduct allegations, Hegseth has faced criticism over his leadership of a veterans’ group and reports of excessive alcohol consumption. A New Yorker article alleged that Hegseth once drunkenly shouted