Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth appeared before the Senate Armed Services committee Wednesday where he was grilled about his past behavior and qualifications. Hegseth acknowledged mistakes he’s made, which according to accounts include infidelity and excessive drinking. 

Pete Hegseth: “I’m not a perfect person, as has been acknowledged, saved by the grace of God, by Jesus and Jenny.” 

But he also said many of the accusations against him, which include sexual assault, alcohol abuse and financial mismanagement of nonprofits are false smears. 

Pete Hegseth: “All they were out to do Mr. Chairman was to destroy me. And why did they want to destroy me? Because I’m a change agent and a threat to them because Donald Trump was willing to choose me, to empower me, to bring the Defense Department back to what it really should be, which is war fighting.” 

The hearing got extremely personal when Senator Tim Kaine brought up an incident that took place in 2017 in California. A woman accused him of raping her at a hotel during a work event, he said the encounter was consensual. He was never charged by the police but signed a non-disclosure agreement. 

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-VA: “You had just fathered a child two months before by a woman that was not your wife. I am shocked that would stand here and say you were completely cleared. Can you so casually cheat on a second wife, and cheat on the mother of a child that had been born two months before and you tell us you were completely cleared. How is that a complete clear?” 

Pete Hegseth: “Senator the child’s name is Gwendolyne Hope Hegseth and she’s a child of God and she’s seven years old.” 

Republicans came to Hegseth’s defense and painted him as a good man who has been redeemed. 

Sen. Markwayne Mullin R-OK: ““How many senators have shown up drunk to vote at night? Have any of you guys asked them to resign from their job? And don’t tell me you’ve never seen it because I know you have. And then how many senators do you know have gotten divorced for cheating on their wives? Did you ask them to step down? 

Democrats went back on the attack though regarding Hegseth’s qualifications and his previous statements about women in combat. 

Sen. Kristin Gillibrand, D-NY: “You’ve said I don’t want women, I don’t want moms. What’s wrong with a mom, by the way? Once you have babies you therefore are no longer able to be lethal? You’re basically saying women after they have children can’t ever serve in the military in a combat role. It’s a silly thing to say.”

That was also an important issue for Republican Senator Joni Ernst, a veteran. 

Sen. Joni Ernst R-Iowa: “As Secretary of Defense will you support women continuing to have the opportunity to serve in combat roles?”

Pete Hegseth: “Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles given the standards remain high.”

After the hearing, multiple Republicans came out to share their support for Hegseth. They expressed confidence that he’ll be confirmed.