Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan) pressed Pete Hegseth about his future response as secretary of defense to President-elect Donald Trump's orders if they violate the Constitution. Slotkin used an example from Defense Secretary Mark Esper's time in Trump's term in the White House to argue the potential scenario.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin asked defense-secretary nominee Pete Hegseth whether presidents can give illegal orders to the military, and whether Hegseth would follow them.

Hegseth awkwardly skirted giving firm answers on topics related to his personal baggage and what he would do as defense secretary.

Mich., pressed Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's pick to lead the Defense Department, Tuesday during Hegseth's confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on if he would carry out an illegal order if Trump would issue one.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D., Mich.) asked Hegseth whether a president can give an illegal order and, if so, would he “stand in the breach” should President-elect Donald Trump do so. Hegseth said he rejected the premise of the question,

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, was grilled by the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday in a heated confirmation hearing.

Pete Hegseth could hardly be more suited to be Donald Trump’s secretary of Defense — even though he’d surely be deemed unqualified by any conventional president.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin asked defense-secretary nominee Pete Hegseth whether presidents can give illegal orders to the military, and whether Hegseth would follow them.

Senate Democrats did nothing to change any minds, hearts, or votes about the defense secretary nominee. Too often, their questioning came across as shrill and hectoring.

Pete Hegseth is widely expected to face the steepest uphill battle of any nominee for President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet.

Readers say he lacks the qualifications and integrity to be defense secretary. Also: Heroism amid the tragedy in L.A.; alone in an empty church.