Hegseth hits back at misconduct allegations in contentious hearing

The FBI's probe of Hegseth did not include an interview with a woman who accused him of sexual assault years ago, sources familiar with the situation told ABC News.

Top senators on the Armed Services Committee were briefed on the FBI's background investigation last week but sources said investigators did not speak to the accuser. The circumstances around the lack of an interview with the woman are unclear.

A police report stated that a woman, identified only as Jane Doe, told investigators in 2017 she had encountered Hegseth at an event afterparty at a California hotel where both had been drinking and claimed that he sexually assaulted her. Hegseth had told authorities that the encounter was consensual.

No charges were filed, although Hegseth subsequently paid the woman as part of a settlement agreement, which Hegseth's attorney said was only because he feared his career would suffer if her allegations were made public.

Read more about the police report and alleged altercation here.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott, Katherine Faulders and Luke Barr

In a post on his social media platform, Trump wrote Hegseth will make a GREAT Secretary of Defense.

"He has my Complete and Total support. Good luck today, Pete!" Trump wrote.

Plus, Trump senior adviser Jason Miller did a morning show blitz praising Hegseth.

"I think Pete Hegseth is going to kill them with kindness," Miller said on CNN, previewing Hegseth's strategy ahead of the hearing.

On Fox News, Miller said he believed Hegseth was the war hero the United States needs and highlighted support from veterans for his nomination.

"I don't see it so much of a challenge. I think it's an opportunity to talk about restoring that warrior ethos, that warrior spirit, back into the military," Miller said as he avoided any concerns of Hegseth's past.

-ABC News Oren Oppenheim and Kelsey Walsh

In his opening statement, obtained by ABC News, Hegseth does not mention the allegations against him but vows to be a "change agent" and bring a "warrior culture" back to the Defense Department.

"I want to thank President Trump for his faith in me, and his selfless leadership of our great Republic," Hegseth will say, according to the prepared remarks. "The troops could have no better Commander-in-Chief than Donald Trump."

"He, like me, wants a Pentagon laser-focused on warfighting, lethality, meritocracy, standards, and readiness," Hegseth will say. "That's it. That is my job."

Hegseth will go on to address his lack of experience compared to previous Pentagon chiefs.

"It is true that I don't have a similar biography to Defense Secretaries of the last 30 years. But, as President Trump also told me, we've repeatedly placed people atop the Pentagon with supposedly 'the right credentials' -- whether they are retired generals, academics, or defense contractor executives -- and where has it gotten us? He believes, and I humbly agree, that it's time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm. A change agent. Someone with no vested interest in certain companies or specific programs or approved narratives," the prepared statement reads.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott

Hegseth, if confirmed, would be in charge of a massive organization of more than 1 million active-duty service members and nearly 1 million civilian workers.

Hegseth has previously discussed going after alleged "wokeness" in the military by firing certain generals, taking aim at DEI initiatives and other programs. He's also said he is generally against women serving in certain combat roles unless they pass high standards men do.

Read more about Hegseth's views on various military issues here.