A cloud of controversy has hung over Hegseth, but he now appears to be on track to be confirmed as Trump's defense secretary.

You are asking us to lower the standards to make you the secretary of defence simply because you are buddies with our president-elect?”

The 19th spoke to all but one of the Democratic women senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee about how they plan to press Trump's defense secretary pick.

In a signed affidavit, Pete Hegseth's former sister-in-law claimed his ex-wife was terrified of him and hid in a closet when he threatened her.

In a sworn affidavit, Pete Hegseth's former sister-in-law said Hegseth's ex-wife told her she at one point "feared for her personal safety" during her marriage to him.

Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, and his second wife denied the allegation that he was abusive in their former marriage.

Pete Hegseth’s former sister-in-law gave an affidavit to the Senate Armed Services Committee accusing him of being “abusive” toward his second ex-wife, according to a copy of the affidavit obtained by CNN.

The former sister-in-law of Pete Hegseth told senators in a sworn affidavit that he caused his second wife to fear for her personal safety and abused alcohol over the course of many years.