Sen. Joni Ernst wants to hear from Hegseth on sex assault in the military and women in combat

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Republican Sen. Joni Ernst made her most expansive comments yet on Pete Hegseth, telling a largely GOP audience at a California security conference Saturday that she needs to hear more from President-elect Donald Trump’s embattled defense secretary pick on key issues before she decides whether to support him.

”I am a survivor of sexual assault," said Ernst of Iowa, a military veteran who has spent much of her time as a lawmaker working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. “I've worked very heavily on sexual assault measures within the military. So I'd like to hear a lot more about that.”

Ernst is one of several Senate Republicans who control the fate of Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host who spent the past week on Capitol Hill trying to win the support of Republican senators who would need to confirm him to lead the Pentagon.

Hegseth has been fighting for his nomination amid allegations of excessive drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies.