Hegseth tackles drinking claims: 'How do you deal with demons? Sometimes with a bottle'

Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for defense secretary, compared himself to conservative Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh after facing allegations of sexual assault and alcohol abuse.

Punchbowl News correspondent Mica Soellner reported that Hegseth's remarks came during a Wednesday lunch with congressional Republicans.

In a Wednesday interview, SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly asked Hegseth if he was being "Kavanaughed" because the Supreme Court justice's nomination was nearly derailed after Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology professor at Palo Alto University, accused him of sexually assaulting her in high school.

Two other women also came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct. Kavanaugh's drinking habits were questioned during his confirmation hearings.

Hegseth told Kelly that Trump had told him to continue fighting the allegations.

"I had a member, not 45 minutes ago, look me in the eye in private, just he and I, and say, that's what they're trying to do to you," the former Fox News host said, comparing himself to Kavanaugh. "And they're going to make it up just like they have so far."

"Take whatever tiny kernels of truth, and there are tiny, tiny ones in there, and blow them up into a masquerade of a narrative about somebody that I am definitely not," he continued.

"They're not upset about your drinking?" Kelly asked.

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"First of all, I've never had a drinking problem," Hegseth laughed. "I don't, no one's ever approached me and said, oh, you should really look at getting help for a drink. Never. I've never sought counseling, never sought help."

"You know, how do you deal with the demons you see on the battlefield? Sometimes it's with a bottle," he added. "Thank God, by the grace of God, I found my chapters of purpose that pulled me out of that."

Ten current and former Fox News employees told NBC they had concerns about Hegseth's use of alcohol while working with him.

Watch the video below from YouTube.