Senators vetting the nomination of Pete Hegseth for defense secretary received an affidavit from a former sister-in-law alleging that the onetime Fox News was abusive to his second wife to the point where she feared for her safety.

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President Donald Trump has named an acting defense secretary because his choice to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, has not yet been confirmed by the Senate.

Hegseth, 44, is a combat veteran and former Fox News host. The committee voted along party lines to advance his nomination to the full Senate.

A senator told Hegseth: "I suggest you do a little homework before you prepare for these types of negotiations."

In many respects, the choice of Fox News personality Pete Hegseth to become secretary of Defense was Donald Trump’s most precedent-defying second-term Cabinet nomination given the enormous magnitude of the job,

Trump’s pick to lead the Central Intelligence Agency is John Ratcliffe, who formerly served as Director of National Intelligence in Trump’s first term. His confirmation hearing took place last week, during which he repeatedly said he would not hire or fire employees based on their political views.

In a signed affidavit, Pete Hegseth's former sister-in-law claimed his ex-wife was terrified of him and hid in a closet when he threatened her.

Amid Republican claims of “anonymous smears,” a named person — and a Hegseth, at that — accuses the defense secretary nominee of abusive behavior.

Pete Hegseth’s former sister-in-law told senators in a sworn affidavit that he made his ex-wife fear for her safety and was dragged out of multiple nightlife venues for unruly drunken behavior. Danielle Hegseth,

Pete Hegseth faced an important test on Tuesday — but he didn't just have to prove himself to the senators who immediately began sparring over his nomination as defense secretary.