SIMI VALLEY, CA -- Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), noting her experience as a sexual assault survivor, said today she wants Pete Hegseth, whom President-elect Trump has nominated to be defense secretary, to continue to have a thorough vetting process including an FBI background check.
“I'm excited to have the opportunity to sit down with him again but there will be a very thorough vetting as he moves forward,” she said.
Ernst has met with Hegseth once and has plans to meet with him again next week.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and National Guard veteran, has come under fire in recent weeks, facing questions about allegations of sexual assault, mismanagement of funds at a veteran’s organization he ran and drinking on the job. Hegseth has denied all the allegations and Trump has said he is fully behind his nomination.
Ernst said she is relying on an upcoming FBI background check to provide lawmakers with additional information.
“I think there are ways that the FBI will vet this and present it to the committee,” she said. “I do trust in our vetting process and I look forward to that opportunity. I'm going to continue to meet with Mr. Hegseth and we're going to continue to work through those issues.”
Ernst said she wanted to hear more from Hegseth on the issue of sexual assault in the military, women in combat and the Pentagon’s failure to pass an audit.
Hegseth has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017. He has denied all wrongdoing and no charges were ever filed. He later entered into a financial settlement and non-disclosure agreement with his accuser.
“I am survivor of sexual assault, so I've worked very heavily on sexual assault measures within the military,” Ernst said. “So, I'd like to hear a little more about that. I'd like to hear about the role of women in our great United States military. . . . I want to make sure that he has a fair process and that we're vetting him thoroughly.”