Watch Live: Pete Hegseth confirmation hearing underway as Trump's defense pick faces senators


Watch Live: Pete Hegseth confirmation hearing underway as Trump

By Kaia Hubbard, Eleanor Watson Updated on: January 14, 2025 / 11:02 AM EST / CBS News What to know about Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's embattled pick to lead the Defense Department, is facing senators at his confirmation hearing Tuesday morning, where he is facing questions over his views on women in the military and allegations of sexual assault, which he denies. In 2017, a woman told police that Hegseth sexually assaulted her. Hegseth said the encounter was consensual and was never charged. In his opening statement, Hegseth said that allegation was part of a "coordinated smear campaign" in the media to tank his nomination. Democrats grilled Hegseth about his past comments that women should not serve in combat roles in the military. "You cannot denigrate women in general, and your statements do that," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said. Watch the hearing before the Senate Armed Service Committee live in the player above and follow live updates from the hearing room below.