Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a key member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who has championed women serving in combat roles, announced Tuesday that she will vote for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s choice to lead the Pentagon.

Ernst said she would support Hegseth after sitting through his lengthy confirmation hearing Tuesday, where Democrats attacked the nominee for his lack of experience, infidelity and allegations of sexual and financial misconduct.

Hegseth repeatedly defended himself from what he called false, anonymous allegations.

“I take my role very seriously in vetting our nominees but I have to say that there a lot of people who use the opportunity as theater,” she said during an interview with Simon Conway on Newsradio 1040 in Des Moines, referring to Democrats.

“For those of us who want to make sure our men and women in uniform are........

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