Pete Hegseth, the controversial former Fox News host, has been accused of sexual assault and faces a grueling confirmation hearing on the path to becoming the next secretary of defense.

Lawmakers and allies weighed in on Trump's defense secretary nominee and the questioning he faced from senators during his confirmation hearing.

Asked directly about the sexual assault allegation, Hegseth dismissed it as a “smear campaign” as he portrayed himself as unfairly attacked.

Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary is heading into a potentially explosive Senate confirmation hearing.

Texas, described the week of hearings for President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominations as a “train wreck,” as many nominees face uncertain Republican votes. NBC News’ Ryan Noble reports on the week ahead featuring Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators immediately began sparring Tuesday over President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary Pete Hegseth ... advice for Hegseth, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas ...

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth ... Asked about advice for Hegseth, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, referred to that earlier example.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth ... Asked about advice for Hegseth, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, referred to that earlier example.

Republicans pushed forward with Pete Hegseth’s nomination as secretary of defense on Wednesday even after a damaging report emerged claiming that his second wife lived in fear of his “abuse.”

Confirmation hearings get underway this week on Capitol Hill, as President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, is scheduled to appear Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

A Princeton and Harvard-educated former combat veteran, Hegseth went on to make a career at Fox News, where he hosted a weekend show. Trump tapped him as the defense secretary to lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million service members, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of $850 billion.