Joni Ernst had been seen as a key hurdle to Pete Hegseth’s confirmation. She approached her questions firmly but without confrontation Tuesday.

The Iowa senator supports Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary, despite allegations of assault and drinking — but she doesn’t want to talk about it.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst announced that she would vote for Pete Hegseth to become Defense Secretary, making his path to Senate confirmation much easier.

Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) — a key vote on the Armed Services Committee — had declined an offer to meet privately with the woman whom Hegseth paid to settle a sexual assault claim. The New Yorker’s ...

Sen. Joni Ernst revealed she is officially supporting Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense after Tuesday's hearing.

By Karoun Demirjian Reporting from Washington Senator Joni Ernst ... by allegations of sexual assault, public drunkenness and corporate mismanagement. Ms. Ernst, a survivor of sexual assault ...

When U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst announced this week she will vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as the nation’s next secretary of defense, it underlined President-elect Donald Trump’s immense sway over ...

Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) threw her support behind Defense ... and selecting a senior official to address and prevent sexual assault in the ranks,” she added. Ernst’s endorsement of Hegseth means ...

Joni Ernst said Tuesday she will vote to confirm Pete Hegseth to ... an audit by 2028 and that he would appoint a senior-level official dedicated to sexual assault prevention and response within the ...