A key senator on the Armed Services Committee says he stands with the president Donald Trump Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth responds to what he described as “anonymous sources with ulterior motives” who cast doubt on his character.
Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker, Republican of Missouri, in a statement on Wednesday criticized recent reports of a classified briefing on… FBI background investigation of Hegseth calling it “grossly inaccurate and factually inaccurate”.
“It is disturbing that a long-standing, sensitive process used by committee leadership to vet presidential personnel is being sued in the press by anonymous sources with ulterior motives,” Wicker said, adding that he received three separate, detailed briefings about the FBI background investigation.
Wicker was responding to a CNN report that cited two sources familiar with the matter who claimed that Hegseth's ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth, had provided a statement to the FBI about Hegseth's alleged alcohol use. A source said Samantha Hegseth told the FBI: “He drinks more than he doesn’t,” the outlet said.
Hegseth's lawyer criticizes the “flawed and questionable statement” from his ex-sister-in-law
Pete Hegseth, left, President Donald Trump's pick to be defense secretary, shakes hands with Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss. After his confirmation hearing by the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Wicker says he keeps at it Stand next to Hegseth.
“After this comprehensive review, I am confident that the nominee, Mr. Hegseth, is prepared to be the next Secretary of Defense, and that the allegations that unfairly impugn his character do not stand up to scrutiny,” the senator said.
Pete Hegseth appears at the conclusion of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, January 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Wicker said Hegseth has Trump's trust and the support of Senate Republicans, and called on the Senate to confirm the nominee “as quickly as possible” during this “perilous national security moment.”
Hegseth has faced controversy throughout his tenure Filtration process.
On Tuesday, Fox News obtained an affidavit from Danielle Hegseth, the sister of Hegseth's ex-wife, alleging that he had an alcohol abuse problem and at times made his ex-wife, Samantha, fear for her 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 physical or sexual abuse from Pitt against Samantha.
Samantha Hegseth also denied any physical abuse in a statement first reported by NBC News.
She said: “There was no physical abuse in my marriage. This is the only additional statement I will make to you. I have told you that I do not and will not talk about my marriage to Pete. Please respect that decision.” He said.
Fox News Digital's Julia Johnson and Fox News' Tyler Olson, Kelly Farris and Daniel Scully contributed to this report.
