Pete Hegseth admits ‘I’m not a perfect person’ as he’s brutally confronted about ‘sexual attack’

Pete Hegseth was forced to face allegations of sexual misconduct during his key Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

He entered the hearing smiling after a standing ovation and “USA” chants, but protests and chaos soon broke out as rowdy activists were executed by Capitol Police.

It remains to be seen whether the 44-year-old Hegseth can garner enough support to pass on his difficult nomination and become Donald Trump’s next secretary of defense.

The former Fox News hosts unearthed numerous allegations of his past sexual misconduct, binge drinking and mismanagement of veterans organizations.

These allegations threaten to damage Hegseth’s chances for the Pentagon’s top job.

He is widely considered Trump’s riskiest Cabinet nominee, about to go through the painful confirmation process.

Shortly after the hearing began, Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., gave Hegseth the opportunity to address the allegations head-on.

“I am not a perfect person, as is acknowledged,” Hegseth said emotionally, adding that he was “saved by the grace of God, through Jesus and Jenny,” his wife, 39.

“I’m not a perfect person, but redemption is real. And God has forged me in ways that I know I am prepared for,” the 44-year-old said firmly. “And I’m honored by the people standing and sitting behind me and I look forward to leading.”

These high-profile reports include allegations of rape, getting drunk on the job, and other mischief. Nearly all of the accusations came out after Hegseth was first appointed defense minister in November.

One incident at a California hotel in 2017 involved a married woman who alleged Hegseth sexually assaulted her, although charges were never filed despite her reporting it to police.

He said he was “falsely accused” and later “completely exonerated” of the incident.

An email from Hegseth’s mother condemning her son for being a “women abuser” also surfaced after Trump announced he wanted the veteran to lead the Pentagon.

Hegseth, meanwhile, has denied wrongdoing in the allegations against him and his mother has said she has retracted the email and is defending her son.

“From the beginning, a coordinated smear campaign was orchestrated against us in the media,” he said of the scathing reports during the hearing.

“That was clear from the very first moment, and what we knew is that it wasn’t about me, it was most about President Donald Trump,” he continued, claiming that the target on his back only grew bigger after he was nominated .

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine also ripped into Hegseth for being unfaithful to one of his former wives.

“You admitted to having sex while married to your wife,” Kaine told Hegseth. “You just fathered a child!”

The nominee responded, “I will let your words speak for themselves.”

Kaine continued, questioning Hegseth’s morality and wondering how he could take the oath of office seriously if he couldn’t keep his own marriage vows.

Lawmakers have also relentlessly pressed the 44-year-old father of seven over his past comments about women in the military.

An awkward moment came when the second-highest-ranking Democrat on the panel, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., pressed Hegseth about his past comments about how women should not serve in combat.

“What do you have to say to the nearly 400,000 women serving today about your position on whether they should be able to rise to the highest ranks of our military?”

The nominee responded, “I would say I would be honored to serve alongside you, shoulder to shoulder, men and women, black, white, all backgrounds with a shared purpose. It is not our differences that define us.”

Shaheen quickly responded, “Well, I appreciate your eleventh hour conversion.”

Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, D-N.Y., also called out Hegseth for his past comments about women and gay service members.

“Women you have denigrated, you have also denigrated members of the LGBT community,” Gillibrand shouted at Hegseth.

“You said in your statement that you don’t want politics in the Department of Defense,” Gillibrand continued. “Everything you said in these public statements is political.”

She didn’t hesitate about Hegseth’s past comments: “I don’t want women.” I don’t want mothers. ”

“What’s wrong with the mother once you have babies, therefore you can no longer be lethal?” the senator asked. “I mean, you’re basically saying that after women have children, they can never serve in the military to fight again.

Gillibrand told the former Fox News host that his past comments were “below the position you aspire to.”

Later in the hearing, Hegseth confirmed that women can continue in combat roles. He said “readiness and meritocracy” must be central to the Pentagon.

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, also pressed Hegseth over reports of his past drinking at work.

“I have read several reports that you are regularly drunk at work, by people you work with,” she said.

The nominee said they were “false” reports and denied them.

He then confirmed that he would not drink if appointed defense minister, a claim he had previously made.

Hirono also pressed Hegseth on whether he would take over Greenland at Trump’s behest.

“Would you use our army to take over Greenland?”

Hegseth said he would “never discuss Trump’s military plans in this public forum.”

She said it sounded to her like he was “basically going to invade Greenland and take over the Panama Canal.”

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Olka., hit back at criticism of Pete Hegseth’s infidelity and his past drinking habits by targeting his colleagues.

“How many senators showed up drunk at night to vote?” he questioned his colleagues. ‘Don’t tell me you didn’t see it, ’cause I know you did,’

Before the Republican spoke, several Democrats questioned reports about Hegseth’s drinking and “cheating on his wife.”

“How many senators have been divorced because of cheating?” Mullin continued. “Did you ask them to resign?”

In addition to the fiery exchanges between the nominee and lawmakers, sparks flew in the crowd as activists broke out in protests before being executed by Capitol Police.

“You are a Christian Zionist and you support the war in Gaza by the Zionists,” the first of several demonstrators broke out shortly after Hegseth’s opening speech began.

It was an older man, wearing a white suit, who introduced himself as a veteran. The man Yelling at Trump’s candidate quickly turned sideways Capitol Police.

Shortly afterwards, the room was quiet and another protester began shouting.

A woman in uniform was asked “we need money for veterans” and “veterans are committing suicide.”

A third man began chanting that the US would “give $8 billion to Israel to slaughter children.”

The man made such a fuss that within seconds he was led away by at least four Capitol Police, who lifted him by each arm and leg.

Another protester shouted: “You’re a misogynist.”