Hegseth on Thursday huddled with a handful of Republican senators, many of them seen as close allies of Trump, for a series of meetings. But while some members of the party signal support for the nomination, other Republicans on the Hill warn that there are mounting concerns about Hegseth. With a 53-seat majority, Hegseth and other Trump nominees can afford to lose only three Republican votes, leaving little room for error. Trump’s transition team was in the middle of announcing new Cabinet picks when they were informed of the sexual assault allegation against Hegseth, CNN reported, stunning several members of the team. Mullin said that Hegseth voluntarily brought up the sexual assault allegation against him in a meeting on Capitol Hill.

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Persons: Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Trump, Hegseth, Marsha Blackburn of, Markwayne Mullin, “, —, Gaetz, Trump’s, GOP Sen, Kevin Cramer, ”, Cramer, Hegseth isn’t, she’s, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, I’m, Mullin, ” Mullin, Republican Sen, Bill Hagerty Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Capitol, Trump, Pentagon, of Defense, Lawmakers, Police, Fox News, Republican, GOP, Department of Health, Human Services, White, Hill, Senate, Hegseth Locations: Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Oklahoma