Schumer meets with key committee Democrats ahead of Hegseth confirmation hearing.

On Monday evening, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., will meet with Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Democrats to discuss the confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth, the controversial Secretary of Defense nominee, which is scheduled to take place just hours after the meeting.

A Senate Democratic source confirmed the last-minute meeting to Planet Chronicle Digital.

In the days before the hearing, Schumer and other Democrats have openly expressed their opposition to the former Planet Chronicle host, who is the first of President-elect Donald Trump's nominees to be examined.

According to a Senate Democratic source, the meeting, initially reported by Axios, was prompted by a New York Democrat who urged his fellow caucus members to scrutinize Trump's nominees during their upcoming hearings and require them to publicly support or oppose controversial Trump agenda items.

Democrats are reportedly preparing to assert that they had previously cautioned about Trump's Cabinet selections.

On Monday, Schumer stated that Hegseth's background is deeply concerning, as there have been reports of his radical views, excessive drinking, sexual assault allegations, and financial mismanagement.

Hegseth has rejected all accusations, including those involving financial mismanagement, sexual assault, and alcohol consumption.

The spokesperson for the Secretary of Defense nominee did not immediately respond to Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment.

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) has several Democrats, including Ranking Member Jack Reed, Jeanne Shaheen, Kirsten Gillibrand, Richard Blumenthal, Mazie Hirono, Tim Kaine, Angus King, Elizabeth Warren, Gary Peters, Tammy Duckworth, Jacky Rosen, Mark Kelly, and Elissa Slotkin.

Last week, Reed and Hegseth had a brief discussion. Following the meeting, the SASC ranking member stated, "Today's meeting did not alleviate my concerns about Hegseth's qualifications and raised more questions than answers."

Mr. Hegseth, like any other nominee for a crucial position, will face the same rigorous examination as previous Secretary of Defense candidates, the official stated.