Five takeaways from Pete Hegseth’s hearing

The 2017 sexual assault allegation in Monterey, California, which surfaced shortly after Trump nominated him for the Pentagon role, has surfaced repeatedly.

According to the police report, the unnamed woman said Hegseth took her phone and blocked the door when she tried to leave his hotel room before he sexually assaulted her.

Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer admitted that Hegseth paid an undisclosed amount to keep quiet about the incident.

On Tuesday, Hegseth went largely on the offensive, denouncing a “coordinated smear campaign” orchestrated by the left-wing media. – They want to destroy me.

But at other times during the hearing, Hegseth answered questions about his behavior with passionate references to his Christian faith.

“I’m not a perfect person, but redemption is real,” he said.