Defense Secretary hopeful Pete Hegseth began testifying in a high-profile Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, seeking to counter expected criticism from Democrats about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon, the nation’s largest government agency.

The hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee will spotlight recently emerged allegations of past sexual impropriety and alcohol abuse by Hegseth.

The 44-year-old Army veteran and former Fox News host also must defend himself against allegations that he mismanaged two nonprofit veterans organizations years earlier.

Committee Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in his opening statement that Hegseth’s unconventional candidacy potentially makes him an “excellent choice” and compared him to President-elect Donald Trump.

But the committee’s ranking Democrat, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, told Hegseth bluntly: “I do not believe you are qualified to handle the overwhelming demands of this job.”

Reed said he found the allegations against Hegseth “extremely alarming.”

“I vote for all of your predecessors, including those in the first Trump administration. “Unfortunately, you lack the character, composure and competence to serve as Secretary of Defense,” Reed said.

As Hegseth entered the hearing, he was greeted with a standing ovation by some audience members. But shortly after he began his opening statement, Hegseth was interrupted three times by protesters who shouted at him as they were carried out of the room.

Trump stood behind Hegseth, who defended himself against the allegations.

He denied being excluded from the two veterans groups and said he would not drink alcohol if confirmed as defense minister.

He has also denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman at a hotel in 2017 while he was at Fox. A police investigation in Monterey, California, ended with no charges against Hegseth. His lawyer, who repeatedly called the allegations false, admitted that Hegseth had reached a confidential agreement with the woman.

The district attorney later said she did not file charges because “no charge was supported by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.”

In his prepared opening statement shared with NBC News, Hegseth did not mention the controversy surrounding his alleged personal conduct.

But he says he is “incredibly proud” of the work he has done for the nonprofits and defends his resume and leadership skills.

While he served deployments to Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan, Hegseth has significantly less senior military or government experience than other current Pentagon leaders. Current Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, for example, has more than 40 years of military experience and served as commander of U.S. Central Command.

“It is true that I do not have a biography similar to that of the defense ministers of the last 30 years,” Hegseth said in his opening statement.

“But as President Trump also told me, we have repeatedly put people with supposedly ‘the right qualifications’ at the top of the Pentagon – be they retired generals, academics or defense contractor executives – and where has that led us?” it says.

The revelations about Hegseth led to speculation that he could be the second of Trump’s nominees to withdraw, after former Republican Matt Gaetz abandoned his bid for attorney general.

However, some Republicans have reportedly signaled in recent days that they believe Hegseth has enough support to get past the Armed Services Committee and be confirmed by the Senate.

The circumstances of Hegseth’s nomination have drawn comparisons to the dramatic Senate hearing into sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh, Trump’s second nominee to the Supreme Court.

Kavanaugh, who vehemently denied these allegations, was confirmed 50-48.

This is developing news. Please check back for updates.