Trump’s Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth’s shock invitation to the FBI – as he walks back comments about women in the military

Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth remained defiant during a Monday night interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

Hegseth, who worked at the conservative network before President-elect Donald Trump picked him to head the Pentagon, has been compromised by sexual abuse allegations.

Without detailing the accusation, Hannity claimed there was “videotape evidence” to dispute it and that Hegseth was “completely exonerated.”

“It was fully investigated at the time, years ago, and I was completely exonerated,” Hegseth said. “And that’s why, Sean, you know what I’m looking forward to? I look forward to the FBI background check.”

“I look forward to actual sworn conversations with senators as we move through the process,” the former Fox News host added.

Hegseth criticized the ‘left’ for the accusations that appeared in the press.

“It’s the anatomy of a swab,” the defense minister said hopefully.

Hegseth also used his conversation with Hannity to clarify comments he made about women serving in the military.

“That somehow I don’t support women in the military,” he said. “Some of our greatest warriors, our best warriors out there, are women who raise your right hand to defend this country and love our nation, want to defend that flag and they do that every day around the world.”

He said if named defense chief, he would become secretary “for all our warriors, men and women, because of the tremendous contributions they make in our military.”

Hannity did not pressure Hegseth on whether that meant supporting women in combat roles, something he previously said he did not do.

The most important votes for his nomination depend on the extent to which he receives the support of various Republican women.

Hegseth said he will meet with Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska on Tuesday and with Sen. Susan Collins of Maine on Wednesday.

Earlier Monday, he met again with Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa.

Afterwards she expressed an openness to vote in favor of the Fox News host.

“While I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on the truth, not anonymous sources,” Ernst said in a statement, saying the duo had “encouraging conversations” earlier in the day.

President-elect Donald Trump shocked Washington when he appointed Fox News host Pete Hegseth to head the Pentagon. Trump will be photographed in Paris this weekend

Pete Hegseth (center) walks through a Senate office building with his wife Jennifer Rauchet (left) as he heads to a meeting with a key tie-breaking vote, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa

It is a sign that the tide may have turned in favor of Hegseth, whose nomination sent shock waves through Washington and was followed by reports of allegations of sexual abuse and inappropriate workplace behavior.

Ernst, a former Army reservist and member of the Iowa Army National Guard, is a sexual assault survivor himself.

The New Yorker published a story on Dec. 1 detailing a number of drunken incidents involving Hegseth while he was CEO of Concerned Veterans for America.

Unnamed sources describe that Hegseth should be stopped from dancing with strippers and drunkenly and angrily shouting “kill all Muslims!”

The New Yorker story also details the alleged assault, which led to Hegseth paying the woman and having her sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Rolling Stone reports this that Trump transition team officials were furious that Hegseth did not disclose the accusation and non-disclosure agreements when he was interviewed about the Pentagon’s top job.

“Pete wasn’t interviewing for a job at McDonald’s; this is the damn Pentagon!’ said a Trumpworld source.

During his interview with Hannity Monday night, Hegseth insisted it was just media shenanigans.

“They take something and then add anonymous sources, distortions and outright lies, and then they try to put you on trial in the media before you can even get in front of the senators,” Hegseth said. “And this is where I give so much credit to President Trump. He has a spine of steel. He never backs down. He called me and said, ‘Pete, keep fighting.’

“So if he can stand what he’s done, Sean, then I can stand by this lying press and continue fighting for the American people and our war fighters,” Hegseth added.