GOP senators hold back judgment on Hegseth sexual assault allegation

Republican senators appear to be giving Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s pick to head the Pentagon, the benefit of the doubt after his lawyer confirmed he paid a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017 to avoid a lawsuit.

Hegseth, a Fox News commentator last week announced by Trump as his intended Defense secretary, has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2017, claiming that he was subject to blackmail. 

But GOP senators, many of whom ...