The report doesn't offer material from Hegseth's ex-wives or a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017. Hegseth has said that encounter was consensual, and prosecutors never filed charges.

Summary

The FBI’s background check on Pete Hegseth, Trump’s defense secretary nominee, omitted interviews with his ex-wives and a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017, despite standard protocol.

Hegseth claims the encounter was consensual, and no charges were filed, though he settled the case in 2023.

Senate Democrats criticized the background check’s thoroughness and raised concerns over Hegseth’s qualifications, citing allegations of financial mismanagement, sexual impropriety, and alcohol issues.