Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be defense secretary, was back on Capitol Hill Tuesday to shore up support as he fends off new allegations of misconduct and sexual impropriety.

The allegations concerned Republican senators, one of whom called the recent reports “very disturbing.” Several Republican lawmakers suggested Hegseth needed to come forward and address them.

But Hegseth, who walked the hallways holding hands with his wife, continued to ignore questions about the New Yorker report that he was forced to resign from two nonprofit veterans groups — Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America — because of allegations of financial mismanagement, sexist behavior and other disqualifying conduct.

The magazine cited what it called a detailed seven-page whistleblower report — compiled by several former CVA employees — that said Hegseth once had to be stopped while drunk from joining dancers on stage at a Louisiana strip club. where he had taken his team. The report also said that Hegseth, who was married at the time, and other members of his management team sexually harassed the organization’s female employees, the magazine said.

ABC News has not independently confirmed the magazine’s report. Hegseth’s attorney, Tim Parlatore, told The New Yorker that the claims were “outlandish.”

“We will meet with any senators who wish to meet with us, and we welcome their advice as we move through the consultation and consent process,” Hegseth told reporters as he arrived for a second day of meetings with senators.

Hegseth was asked dozens of questions by reporters, including what he would say to those affected by the allegations, whether the women who spoke out were lying, whether he had a drinking problem and whether the Trump transition team was informed by the knew about the allegations.

He did not respond, including when asked by ABC’s Elizabeth Schulze whether GOP Sen. Joni Ernst said she thought he should have agreed to a background check.

Trump’s team defended Hegseth early Tuesday. Senior adviser Jason Miller tried to dismiss the allegations as “innuendo and gossip” in an interview on CNN.

“So when it comes to Pete Hegseth, there are no concerns and we are very pleased that his position will be confirmed by the Senate,” Miller said. “Now we have to take the process very seriously.”

Republican senators, who were peppered with questions about Hegseth and other current Trump picks as they returned to Washington this week, also say they want a “normal” confirmation process – which would routinely include FBI background checks.

But some of their statements have so far fallen short of glowing approval.

“I think some of these articles are very disturbing. He obviously has a chance to defend himself here, but some of it is going to be – it’s going to be difficult. Only time will tell,” said Senator Lindsey Graham, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Leadership comes from the top, and I want to ensure that every young woman who joins the military field is respected,” Graham said, seemingly referring to Hegseth’s comments against women serving in combat roles.

Senator Josh Hawley, another key panel member, argued that Hegseth would have the opportunity to answer any questions during the confirmation process, but particularly suggested that some of his Republican colleagues were “very concerned.”

“I just want to call on my Republican colleagues who are very concerned. I know some of them are expressing public concern – it’s fine, but I just want to urge them before they decide, just before they decide, let them have this hearing and listen, let us going through the process here and giving them a chance to answer that and more and lay out that vision to you,” Hawley said.

Senator Tommy Tuberville, who endorsed Hegseth on Monday as a “great” choice, had also suggested that Hegseth could face headwinds.

“If it is to some extent, of course people are not going to vote to confirm it,” Tuberville said when asked about the allegations after their meeting. “But if I talk to him about what I’ve read, what I’ve studied and what I’ve been around him, then I’ll vote for him.”

Many suggest that he needs to come forward and address the issue.

“Well, these allegations that have just surfaced in the last 12 to 14 hours are a surprise to all of us and that’s why he needs to address it because we weren’t aware of it, nor was President Trump.” “I am “I’m aware of them,” said Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., who met with Hegseth with a group of senators Monday night.

Asked about his ability to get through the nomination process, Lummis said she hoped to meet him in person, deferring to how he handles the new allegations.

“It depends on how he addresses the issues raised,” Lummis said. “Some of the previous issues that were raised in relation to an incident in California were, I think, satisfactorily resolved and would not have affected his nomination, but some new things that have come to light in the last 12 to 14 hours are things that he has to deal with.”

“I read all the articles, I saw all the allegations. And Mr. Hegseth needs to deal with it,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La.

“I want to know if they are true and I want to hear his side of the story. And he has to address them,” Kennedy added.

Hegseth met Tuesday with Sen. Deb Fischer, one of two Republican women on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty in their respective offices.

A meeting was also planned with Republican Senators Ted Budd, Shelley Moore Capito, Jim Risch and Eric Schmitt.

Schmitt said he would “definitely ask questions” about the allegations.