If it's Tuesday, President-elect Trump's pick to run the Pentagon, Pete Hegg-Seth is in the hot seat

defending his personal and professional background while sparring with Senate Democrats over his past

comments on women in the military and accusations of sexual assault and drinking on the job.

Plus, California officials activate the highest possible level fire alert in L.A.

as wind gusts are forecast to approach hurricane strength,

threatened to fuel the wildfire flames that are already burning out of control.

And special counsel, Jack Smith, rejects President Trump's claims

that his investigation was influenced

by politics, saying he had sufficient evidence to charge and convict Mr. Trump for his efforts

to overturn the Press Now.

I'm Peter Alexander here in Washington.

A busy week of confirmation hearings just kicked off with what's expected to be one of the most contentious ones of all.

For President-elect Trump's pick to lead the Department of Defense, Combat Veteran,

and Fox television personality Pete Hegseth, Hegseth, who, if confirmed, will oversee more

than 3 million personnel, and an $800-plus billion budget came in today's hearing,

facing a series of questions about his experience, his ability to do the job, and his past comments about

women in conduct, along with questions about his character due to allegations of sexual

misconduct and reports of excessive drinking on the job, all of which he denies. It was notable then

that the first question that Hegeseth received for the Republican

chairman of the Armed Services Committee today teed him up for an emotional and blanket dismissal

of reports about his past conduct.

There was a coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media against us.

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