Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Defense, had his FBI background check transmitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee just days before his confirmation hearing. Democrats on the committee have expressed frustration over the delay and question the thoroughness of the report, especially given Hegseth’s controversial past. Some have raised concerns about Hegseth’s qualifications and lack of preparedness for the position. Democrats feel that they should have had access to the report before the hearing. Hegseth and his team have been reaching out to committee members both before and after the hearing, with some senators declining to meet with him until after the inauguration. There has been media scrutiny over Hegseth’s past leadership of veterans’ groups, with reports of financial mismanagement and inappropriate behavior. Despite concerns raised by Democrats, there are no known “no” votes from Republicans on the committee, indicating that Hegseth may still be confirmed. Hegseth’s team claims that the delay in the FBI report reaching committee members was a way to slow down the confirmation process. Supporters of Hegseth believe he will ultimately be confirmed to lead the Department of Defense.
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