Fireworks erupted between Sen. Richard Blumenthal and President-elect Trump’s controversial nominee to lead the nation’s military on Tuesday.

During a contentious confirmation hearing, Blumenthal and other Democrats grilled Pete Hegseth about accusations of sexual misconduct and alcoholism – accusations he called a “coordinated smear campaign.”

Despite the tough questions, Hegseth appears to have enough Republican votes to get the job. If he does, it could have a big impact on Connecticut.

Hegseth is Trump’s first nominee to face a confirmation hearing – and his most controversial. The former combat veteran and Fox News host called himself a “change agent” who would bring back a “warrior culture” to the military.

“It’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm,” Hegseth told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Hegseth served in the Army National Guard from 2002 to 2021, deploying to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011 and earning two Bronze Stars. But he lacks senior military and national security experience.

Republican chair Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) called Hegseth an “unconventional” choice who will “bring energy and fresh ideas to shake up the bureaucracy.”

But a dozen Democrats questioned Hegseth about mounting accusations of personal misconduct. They also questioned whether the former TV host has the experience to oversee a sprawling bureaucracy of 2.1 million service members and a nearly $1 trillion budget.

“I do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job,” said Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the top Democrat on the panel.

Blumenthal grilled Hegseth about his time managing two charities, Concerned Veterans for America and Veterans For Freedom.

“You told donors that the organization had less than $1,000 in the bank. And debts for $434,000,” Blumenthal said. “That isn’t the kind of fiscal management we want at the Department of Defense.”

Hegseth insisted the money was all spent on vets.

“Every dollar we raised was used intentionally toward the execution of our mission,” he said.

The Connecticut Democrat noted that Hegseth had been pushed out of one non-profit due to dissatisfaction from donors, to which Hegseth replied that he spent the interceding time obtaining a degree from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Things only got testier from there.

Others hammered Hegseth about his lack of experience running a huge department, his past comments about women and Black troops and allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct.

“I have read multiple reports of your regularly being drunk at work, including by people who worked with you at Fox News,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).

“You were drunk, you tried to dance with strippers, you had to be held off the stage,” added Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia).

In 2017, a woman told police that Hegseth sexually assaulted her, according to a detailed investigative report recently made public. Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing and told police at the time that the encounter was consensual. He later paid the woman a confidential settlement to head off a potential lawsuit.

“I was falsely accused in October of 2017, it was fully investigated and I was completely cleared,” Hegseth said. “There was a coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media against us. And why do they want to destroy me? Because I’m a change agent and a threat to them.”

Many senators have not yet met with Hegseth and most do not have access to his FBI background check, as only committee leaders were briefed on its findings. Reed called the background check “insufficient.”

Blumenthal asked Hegseth if he would agree to a fuller FBI review, but he demurred, saying it was not up to him. The Trump transition would need to request it.

Hegseth could have a big impact on the Connecticut’s massive defense industry. He promised to boost military spending but also said has “no vested interest in certain companies or specific programs.”

That could mean more competition for large legacy contractors, like Pratt and Whitney, Electric Boat and Sikorsky.

“I look forward to working with this committee to ensure we cut the red tape, we incentivize innovation, we rebuild the defense-industrial base, cut out the bureaucracy,” Hegseth told senators. “This includes reviving our defense-industrial base, reforming the acquisitions process. As you mentioned Mr. Chairman, no more ‘Valley of Death’ for new defense companies."

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London could also see impacts. Nearly two dozen former cadets claim the Academy covered up sexual violence.

A key swing vote, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) pressed Hegseth on the issue. Ernst is a military veteran and sexual assault survivor.

"Will you appoint a senior-level official dedicated to sexual assault prevention and response?” she asked.

“Senator, as we have discussed, yes I will,” Hegseth replied.

Pressed on his opposition to diversity initiatives, Hegseth agreed that the military “was a forerunner in courageous racial integration.” But he argued that modern diversity and inclusion policies “divide” current troops and don’t prioritize “meritocracy.”

In a striking scene, several female Democratic senators grilled Hegseth over his comments that women should “straight up” not be in combat roles, a view he has softened since his nomination.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) noted the switch.

“Which is it?” she asked.

In one fiery exchange, Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) told Hegseth: “You will have to change how you see women to do this job.”

The more than four-hour hearing launched a weeklong marathon as the Republican-led Senate is rushing to have some of Trump’s nominees ready to be confirmed as soon as Inauguration Day, Jan. 20. With a narrow GOP majority, almost all Republicans must support Trump’s pick if Democrats oppose.

Another controversial pick is Trump’s pick for Education Secretary, Connecticut’s Linda McMahon. She helped build Stamford-based World Wrestling Entertainment into a global juggernaut, but has almost no background in education.

Trump has reportedly vowed to shut down the agency.

“One other thing I’ll be doing very early in the administration is closing the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and sending all education and education work and needs back to the states,” he said on social media in October 2023.

McMahon is not expected to get a confirmation hearing until after Trump’s inauguration.