WASHINGTON — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, emerged from a tense confirmation hearing Tuesday with the support of the Republican Party intact following weeks of scrutiny over his fitness and qualifications to lead the Pentagon. A vote of the full Senate could come as soon as next week.

In a hearing that stretched more than four hours, Democrats pressed Hegseth on numerous allegations of misconduct, his views about women in combat and his ability to lead a sprawling department with 3 million employees and an $849 billion budget. Hegseth claimed to have been the victim of a “smear campaign” that focused on an accusation of sexual assault and episodes of drinking to excess.

But a key Republican member of the committee, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a veteran and a sexual assault survivor, appeared satisfied with his responses to her questions about the role of women in the military and sexual assault prevention. Ernst, who is seen as critical to Hegseth’s confirmation chances, spent much of her time focusing on their agreement that the Pentagon should be audited.

The hearing turned partisan almost immediately, with Republicans defending Hegseth and claiming that the military had been weakened by Biden administration policies, while Democrats took aim at his personal views and conduct.

Democrats repeatedly questioned him on the sexual assault allegation, which did not result in criminal charges but led to a financial settlement with the woman. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a Navy combat pilot, asked about a recurrent conflict in his testimony: calling himself a redemption story while calling allegations of inappropriate conduct a series of “anonymous smears.”

Democrats also went after Hegseth over his support for convicted war criminals, to which he said the country’s rules of engagement were “restrictive.” They also called in question his management of two veterans organizations, and pushed him on his long history of public comments disparaging women’s service in the military.

Republicans regularly came to Hegseth’s defense and praised his performance. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., accused Democrats of being hypocritical, asking them whether they had ever demanded the resignations of senators who showed up intoxicated for votes or cheated on their spouses.

Hegseth vigorously denied improper conduct and refused to engage with questions about whether heavy drinking or sexual assault would be disqualifying.

Here’s what else to know:

Female senators’ questions: The panel’s Democratic women — including Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois — were among Hegseth’s strongest interrogators. They accused him of denigrating female members of the military, failing to meet the most basic standards for a defense secretary and refusing to answer their questions. Warren pointed out statements stretching back more than a decade in which he said women should not serve in combat. Hegseth asserted that his statements have been about maintaining “standards” within the service.

Repeated dodges: Hegseth refused to say what kind of conduct would be disqualifying in a nominee for defense secretary. While he denied misconduct accusations against him, he would not say whether sexual assault, excessive drinking or marital infidelity should disqualify someone. “You can’t tell me whether someone who has committed a sexual assault is disqualified from serving as secretary of defense?” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., asked. Hegseth replied, “Senator, I know in my instance — and I’m talking about my instance only — it was a false claim.”

Sparring over slang: An exchange with Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., provided one of the stranger moments. In questioning that focused on Hegseth’s support for military personnel accused of war crimes, Reed asked him to define the word “jagoff.” Hegseth initially declined with a wry smile, then said it meant a JAG officer, or a member of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, who prioritized their own careers over other service members. The word is rooted in an unmistakably sexual definition, a blurring of a more lurid term.

Accusations: The New York Times and other news organizations have documented a pattern of excessive drinking by Hegseth. In the most serious allegation against him, a woman in Monterey accused him of raping her in 2017. Hegseth said the encounter was consensual, and it resulted in no criminal charges. His lawyer said Hegseth was inebriated at the time.

Background check: The top two members of the Senate Armed Services Committee were briefed late Friday on the FBI’s background check of Hegseth. Others suggested that they might not have all the information they need about him. Duckworth has said she wants to see the FBI background check and Hegseth’s financial disclosures, and wants to know about “any other allegations he might be facing.”