Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) is denying that she reportedly rejected an offer to meet privately with the woman who has accused President-elect Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, of 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.

The Iowa Republican’s decision dramatically increases the likelihood that Mr. Hegseth will have enough votes to be confirmed as President-elect Donald J. Trump’s defense secretary.

Senators of both parties hammered Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Defense nominee, over his past comments about women serving in the military.

Stonewalling questions about his sexual behavior and excessive drinking as “anonymous smears,” the Fox host charmed the Senate Armed Services Committee’s GOP majority into submission.

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.

It is the first serious test of Donald Trump’s newly invigorated strongman model of governance and of whether he can continue to bend the Republican Party to his will even as Hegseth breaks procedural precedents,

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.

The FBI has interviewed multiple individuals about defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s personal life as part of its background check investigation, sources say.

Maine's independent senator questioned the former Fox News host and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan about women in combat, torture and the war in Ukraine.

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.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to run the Department of Defense, will answer questions Tuesday in a public hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.