The attacks on Pete Hegseth’s nomination for Secretary of Defense are completely unfounded and unjust. The sexual misconduct allegation against him from 2017 has already been thoroughly investigated and dismissed by the Monterey Police Department, yet the allegation is being revived and used to undermine his nomination. This is a clear attempt by certain individuals within the Trump transition team to sabotage Hegseth’s confirmation.
Vanity Fair reported last Thursday that Trump’s Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, was briefed on the allegation, leading to a meeting between Hegseth, Wiles, and Trump’s legal team. According to the report, Hegseth maintained that the encounter was consensual and that the allegation was a case of “he-said, she-said.” His attorney, Timothy Parlatore, emphasized that the Monterey Police had already investigated the claim and found no evidence to support it. Despite this, the allegation continues to be used to target Hegseth.
STOP THE BACKSTABBING 🐍 The letter sent to try to get Hegseth out was leaked by someone trying to destroy Trump's cabinet picks. "It doesn't matter that the letter was sent, it matters that it was sent to the transition team and not the media." @JFRadioShow pic.twitter.com/89TxirVLq3
— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) November 18, 2024
It is clear that someone inside the transition team is leaking this information with the intent of damaging Hegseth’s reputation. This behavior is a form of political sabotage, aimed at derailing Hegseth’s nomination and preventing him from taking office. By continuing to focus on this already-dismissed allegation, the transition team is distracting from the important work of filling key positions in the new administration.
The latest round of leaks includes a report by The Washington Post alleging that Hegseth paid the accuser in 2023 while continuing to deny the allegations. These leaks only serve to muddy the waters, despite the fact that the initial investigation found no substance to the claim. It is clear that these leaks are being orchestrated to cause as much damage as possible.
What a shock 🫤
…Dems leak ANOTHER "sexual something or other" story to try to discredit a great Republican appointee.
I'm so over this – I still like Hegseth…this changes nothing.
— PlainJane 🇺🇸 (@PlainJa65866722) November 17, 2024
The Trump administration must quickly identify the source of these leaks and remove them from the team. These kinds of political attacks are harmful not only to Hegseth but to the entire transition process. It is time for the focus to shift back to Hegseth’s qualifications for the role, not a baseless and discredited accusation.
