Thune spoke about a lack of "clarity" when suggesting that clearing confirmation hearings wasn't as certain for Patel as for Hegseth.

President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly been reassured by a top Republican that his controversial pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has enough backing from the GOP to be confirmed by the Senate.

Senators who will decide on the fate of Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s pick as Defense Secretary, are probing allegations of sex assault and financial impropriates made against the former Fox News host.

The Senate Committee on Armed Forces has scheduled a January 14 confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth to serve as as Secretary of Defense.

Hegseth was commissioned as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard and he served in Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11. Prior to his stint as a talk show host on Fox News, he led the nonprofits Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America.

John Thune has promised President-elect Donald Trump that Pete Hegseth has enough votes in the Senate to lead the Pentagon. The post Pete Hegseth Has the Votes to Become Secretary of Defense, Senate Majority Leader Reportedly Tells Trump first appeared on Mediaite.

Despite scandals involving a previous accusation of sexual assault and concerns about his conduct and leadership, Senate Majority Leader John Thune informed President-elect Donald Trump that Defense Secretary candidate Pete Hegseth would most likely receive Senate approval.