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Dec. 10 (UPI) -- President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees made the rounds Tuesday on Capitol Hill, where his Defense secretary choice Pete Hegseth appeared to gain ground with several key Republicans. Hegseth has been meeting with senators to rally support for his nomination as he faces accusations -- which he has repeatedly denied -- of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement at a veterans nonprofit organization.
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Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and a member of the Armed Services Committee, had previously said she was not ready to back Hegseth. After a second meeting Monday, Ernst said she would be "supporting him through this process."
"As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources," Ernst said in a statement Monday.
"Following our encouraging conversations, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our servicemen and women -- based on quality and standards, not quotas -- and who will prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks," Ernst added.
"I appreciate the time," Hegseth told reporters inside the Hart Senate Office Building," the amazing conversation, foreign affairs, combat vet, welcomed all of her insight."
Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., said he and Hegseth discussed "Arkansas's national security footprint and how to approach challenges with recruiting and readiness."
Hegseth also met Tuesday with Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who said she had a "good exchange with Mr. Hegseth," but stopped short of committing to voting for him.
"We'll see what the process bears," Murkowski told reporters. "He's got probably at least half the Senate that he is going to visit with. He's got a process that is going to involve full vetting for the administration."
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, gave his support after meeting with Hegseth on Tuesday, saying he "will support Pete Hegseth, as I always say, barring any unforeseen circumstances."
"Great catching up with Pete Hegseth," Cornyn wrote Tuesday in a post on X. "As secretary of Defense, he will disrupt the bureaucratic status quo, reestablish deterrence and help restore American leadership on the world stage."
Trump's picks for Secretary of State Marco Rubio, FBI director Kash Patel and his choice for director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also held meetings on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.
