Defense nominee Pete Hegseth faces questions about how he’d treat female soldiers, at a time when the armed forces are struggling with recruitment and with reducing sexual assault.

WASHINGTON − Senators pressed Pete Hegseth on his alleged history of heavy drinking, shifting views on women in the military, and his treatment of women in a wide-ranging and often combative confirmation hearing on Tuesday to assess if he is up to the job of Secretary of Defense.

Sen. Joni Ernst’s support is a huge boost to Hegseth’s prospects, all but assuring his confirmation as defense secretary barring twists in the GOP-led Senate.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst announced that she would vote for Pete Hegseth to become Defense Secretary, making his path to Senate confirmation much easier.

Va., questioned defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth on sexual assaults leveled against him and his failure to disclose the allegation to the Trump transition team, as well as accusations of drinking on the job.

WASHINGTON – Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, will vote for former Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, she announced Tuesday night after his first confirmation hearing.

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, attempted to convince senators on Tuesday, Jan. 14, that he can be trusted to run the Pentagon despite his controversial past.

The FBI background check, which followed parameters set by the Trump transition team, may have defied standard protocol by not including interviews with Hegseth's ex-wives or the woman who accused him of sexual assault in a hotel room in 2017, according to senators on the Armed Services Committee.

Sen. Mazie Hirono grilled Pete Hegseth at his confirmation hearing on his drinking, sexual assault allegations and more.

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa announced on Tuesday that she would be voting for Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth—bringing one of the chamber’s last remaining Republican skeptics into line and significantly raising the former Fox News host and Army veteran’s chances of being confirmed.

Democrats grilled Trump’s defense secretary pick over ugly allegations against him. But barring a last-minute surprise, he appears on track to be confirmed.