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.

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.

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.

Jon “Tracer” Treacy, who briefly ran for U.S. Senate as a Democrat in 2019, said Trump’s choice for defense secretary, former television news host Pete Hegseth, lacks the character, experience and integrity to serve in such a crucial role in the government.

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,

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.

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.

Pete Hegseth emerged from a Senate committee hearing with the support of the Republican Party intact following weeks of scrutiny over his qualifications and allegations of misconduct.

Will Trump's controversial slate of Cabinet nominations get enough votes to pass the Senate? After the first week, a couple of things seemed clear.