Hegseth says he was blocked from working Biden inauguration over tattoo

• During his heated hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Democrats have battered Hegseth over the slate of allegations he faces, from sexual misconduct to financial mismanagement.

Driving the news: Hegseth said during questioning from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) that he volunteered to work Biden's inauguration as a National Guard member but was denied because of a "Christian tattoo."

• The tattoo in question, the Washington Post previously reported, sports the phrase, "Deus Vult" or "God wills it," a Christian battle cry dating back to the First Crusade in the Middle Ages.
• It also became popular with extremist groups that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, including the Proud Boys and Three Percenters, the Post reported.
• But in Hegseth's retelling, he has said the Jerusalem cross tattoo on his chest was the one that was flagged, rather than the text on his bicep.

Flashback: Ahead of Biden's inauguration, law enforcement officials identified and removed 12 people in the Guard's ranks because of "security precautions" amid concerns of extremism following the Capitol riot, the Department of Defense told reporters in 2021.

Zoom in: Asked about the allegations that have rocked his path to Senate confirmation, Hegseth repeated his claim that he was the target of a "smear campaign" to derail his nomination.

• In his opening statement, he vowed to "restore the warrior ethos" at the Pentagon.

Go deeper: Read: Full text of Pete Hegseth's opening statement