Hegseth will not say whether sexual assault, drinking or adultery are disqualifying

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, on Tuesday repeatedly denied allegations of wrongdoing against him and refused to say whether sexual assault, excessive drinking or marital infidelity should disqualify someone from serving as defense secretary.

Under questioning from Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, Mr. Hegseth, what he said were “false allegations” about his conduct.

He testified to the Senate Armed Services Committee that he was a changed man, while dismissing all allegations of wrongdoing against him as a smear campaign orchestrated by a left-wing media and anonymous sources.

He also declined to say whether someone who had committed the offenses of which he has been accused would be fit to lead the Pentagon.

“You can’t tell me if someone who has committed a sexual assault is disqualified from serving as Secretary of Defense?” Mr. Kaine replied.

“Senator, I know in my case – and I’m only talking about my case – it was a false allegation,” replied Mr. Hegseth.

Mr. Kaine then asked Mr. Hegseth whether he had ever committed an act of physical violence against any of his three spouses. He denied it – but declined to say whether such behavior would be disqualifying.

Mr. Hegseth also refused to engage when Mr. Kaine questioned whether someone who was intoxicated in public in the way that some former colleagues have accused him of should be heading the Defense Department. The senator cited allegations that an intoxicated Mr. Hegseth had shouted “kill all Muslims” at a work event in a bar and on another occasion took colleagues to a strip club where he tried to dance with strippers.

Mr. Kaine also rejected Mr. Hegseth’s efforts to dismiss the charges against him.

“You claim it was all anonymous? We’ve seen records with names attached to all of these, including the name of your own mother,” said Mr. Kaine, adding, “So don’t turn this into some anonymous press thing.”

During his interrogation, Mr. Kaine to argue that Mr. Hegseth’s past behavior made it clear that he should not hold the job that Mr. Trump has chosen him. When he noted evidence of Mr. Hegseth’s previous infidelity, asked Mr. Kaine whether he would treat the oath of office as secretary of defense the same way he treated his marriage vows.

Mr. Kaine also pointed out that Mr. Hegseth had fathered a child with the woman who later became his third wife while he was still married to his second wife, and that a meeting in 2017 with a woman who accused him of sexual assault – as Mr. Hegseth has said was the consensus – was at least cheating, if not a crime.

Mr. Hegseth responded by claiming that he had been “falsely accused – completely, completely investigated and completely cleared.”

“Can you casually cheat on another wife and cheat on the mother of a child two months before?” Mr. Kaine replied. “How is that absolutely clear?”

Mr. Hegseth added that he had been redeemed by his “lord and savior” for his mistakes in life.

John Ismay and Erik Schmitt contributed with reporting.