Key Senate chairman criticizes 'anonymous sources with ulterior motives,' stands by Hegseth nomination

A cardinal legislator connected the Armed Services Committee says helium is lasting by President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, pushing backmost connected those helium called "anonymous sources with ulterior motives" who are casting uncertainty connected his character.

Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., successful a connection Wednesday criticized caller reports connected a confidential briefing connected the FBI inheritance investigation of Hegseth arsenic "starkly and factually inaccurate."

"It is disturbing that a sensitive, longstanding process utilized by committee enactment to vet statesmanlike unit is being litigated successful the property by anonymous sources with ulterior motives," Wicker said, adding that he’s received 3 separate, elaborate briefings connected the FBI’s inheritance investigation.

Wicker was responding to a CNN study that cited 2 sources acquainted with the substance who claimed that Hegseth’s ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth, gave a connection to the FBI astir Hegseth’s alleged intoxicant use. The outlet said 1 of the sources said Samantha Hegseth told the FBI, "He drinks much often than helium doesn’t."

HEGSETH LAWYER SLAMS ‘FLAWED AND QUESTIONABLE AFFIDAVIT’ FROM EX-SISTER-IN-LAW

Wicker says that helium continues to stand by Hegseth.

"After this thorough review, I americium ironclad successful my appraisal that the nominee, Mr. Hegseth, is prepared to beryllium the adjacent Secretary of Defense, and that the allegations unfairly impugning his quality bash not walk scrutiny," the legislator said.

Wicker said that Hegseth has the assurance of Trump and the backing of Senate Republicans, and called connected the Senate to corroborate the nominee "as accelerated arsenic possible" during this "precarious nationalist information moment."

‘DESPERATE ATTEMPT’: SENATORS RECEIVE AFFIDAVIT WITH ALLEGATIONS ABOUT HEGSETH'S PREVIOUS MARRIAGE

Hegseth has faced contention passim his nomination process.

On Tuesday, Fox News obtained an affidavit from Hegseth's erstwhile sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, which alleges helium has an intoxicant maltreatment occupation and astatine times made his ex-wife, Samantha, fearfulness for her safety. Danielle Hegseth was joined to Pete Hegseth's brother. She is not the sister of Samantha, Pete Hegseth's 2nd wife.

But Danielle Hegseth added that she ne'er witnessed immoderate maltreatment herself, carnal oregon sexual, from Pete against Samantha. 

Samantha Hegseth has besides denied immoderate carnal maltreatment successful a connection archetypal reported by NBC News.

"There was nary carnal maltreatment successful my marriage. This is the lone further connection I volition marque to you. I person fto you cognize that I americium not speaking and volition not talk connected my matrimony to Pete. Please respect this decision," she reportedly said. 

Fox News Digital’s Julia Johnson and Fox News’ Tyler Olson, Kelly Phares and Daniel Scully contributed to this report.