Defense Secretary-nominee Pete Hegseth "has the backing of Senate Republicans," and reports about questions concerning the FBI's background investigation into him "are starkly and factually inaccurate," Sen. Roger Wicker, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Wednesday night.
"I have received three separate, detailed briefings on the FBI’s background investigation of Mr. Hegseth," the Mississippi Republican posted on the committee's X page. "After this thorough review, I am ironclad in my assessment that the nominee, Mr. Hegseth, is prepared to be the next Secretary of Defense, and that the allegations unfairly impugning his character do not pass scrutiny."
He added that Pete Hegseth also has the confidence of President Donald Trump.
"During this precarious national security moment, the Senate needs to confirm this nominee as fast as possible," Wicker said.
Wicker's comments come after reports by NBC News and other sources that senators are raising questions about Pete Hegseth's vetting process, pointing to allegations of abuse and drinking made by his former sister-in-law and saying Trump's transition team had not disclosed them.
Danielle Hegseth, the nominee's former sister-in-law, said in an affidavit that he had made his ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth, fear for her safety.
Samantha Hegseth denied that there was any "physical abuse" in their marriage.
Wicker called the press reports "disturbing."
"It is disturbing that a sensitive, longstanding process used by committee leadership to vet presidential personnel is being litigated in the press by anonymous sources with ulterior motives," he said.
NBC reported that more than 20 senators have now seen an unredacted version of the affidavit, including several Republicans, and that a copy of it was made available to all senators.
Tim Parlatore, a lawyer for Pete Hegseth, responded that NBC is "well aware" that Samantha Hegseth has "denied these false allegations, yet NBC continues to irresponsibly report false allegations by an uninvolved third party as if they were fact."
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who viewed the unredacted affidavit Tuesday when it was made available to senators, told NBC that he is trying to determine who, procedurally, sets parameters around what is released to the top senators on the committee considering a nomination.
He also said he has sought to "corroborate" Danielle Hegseth's allegations after speaking with witnesses who had "interesting accounts" of their experiences with Pete Hegseth, and suggested he is undecided on the nomination.
"I’m interested in anything until the final vote," Tillis said. "I voted on the motion to proceed last night, but I’ve made it very clear to the administration, my colleagues, that I treat every one of these pieces of information with respect, the would-be witnesses with respect. I’ve just got to confirm facts and corroborate."
Meanwhile, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who is on the Armed Services Committee, said she is convinced the "FBI has done their job" when she was asked about the allegations.
"The ex-wife has denied the allegations," she said. "I think we need to take her at her word."
Ernst has already said she would back his nomination.