Hegseth’s Pentagon Nomination: Whistleblower Alleges Misconduct, Abuse, and Intoxication
President-elect Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense is facing intense scrutiny following revelations of a secret financial settlement for a rape accusation and a whistleblower report detailing serious misconduct. The report alleges repeated instances of public intoxication, sexual impropriety, and financial mismanagement during Hegseth’s leadership of two non-profit organizations. These allegations, corroborated by former colleagues, raise concerns about Hegseth’s fitness to lead the Department of Defense. Senator Blumenthal voiced alarm, citing parallels to the rejection of a previous nominee due to similar concerns. Hegseth’s lawyer has dismissed the allegations as “outlandish claims.”