Pete Hegseth's former sister-in-law said in an affidavit to senators on Tuesday that President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon abused his second ex-wife to the point where she once hid in a closet and gave friends a code word to use in a crisis.

A cloud of controversy has hung over Hegseth, but he now appears to be on track to be confirmed as Trump's defense secretary.

Republicans moved behind closed doors on Monday to speed the nomination of Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, to the Senate floor, brushing aside the objections of Democrats who have raised concerns about his personal conduct.