Hegseth Seeks Pentagon Position While His Nomination Remains Uncertain
The Fox News host claims he is a target of a "media takedown."
TroibNews 
On Wednesday, Pete Hegseth aggressively defended his nomination to lead the Pentagon amid serious allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking that have placed him in jeopardy. He has engaged in private discussions with lawmakers, given media interviews, and made a combative post on social media, portraying his situation as a challenging fight for the role of Secretary of Defense under President-elect Donald Trump.
Hegseth's attorney, Timothy Parlatore, is actively countering the allegations claiming that the military veteran and Fox News host did not sexually assault a woman, drank excessively, or engage in other misconduct. “He is looking forward to the FBI investigation and he wants it to start now,” Parlatore stated in an interview with PMG.
Despite their efforts, the outcome remains uncertain. While Trump continues to show public support for Hegseth's nomination, sources close to the president-elect indicate he is considering alternatives, including the potential nomination of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Hegseth's discussions included a crucial meeting with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a combat veteran and survivor of sexual assault, yet it remains unclear if he won her endorsement. She described their conversation as “frank and thorough” but offered no indication of support.
In a detailed interview on SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Show” and through various posts on social media, Hegseth depicted himself as a victim of what he termed a “textbook manufactured media takedown.” He has committed to combating the accusations, which include a claim from a woman alleging he sexually assaulted her following a night of drinking at a Republican event in Monterey, California, in 2017. Although he was not charged in that case, he reached a financial settlement with the accuser, raising questions about whether he disclosed this information to the Trump transition team.
Parlatore defended Hegseth's interactions with the transition team, asserting that it is not customary to disclose such allegations. “It’s not something that you would necessarily be expected to disclose,” he explained, noting that the question surrounding false accusations typically does not arise in background checks.
He also refuted claims regarding Hegseth's leadership at two veterans organizations, which included allegations of excessive drinking, mismanagement, and overlooking staff misconduct. Reports cited by The New Yorker described instances of Hegseth needing restraint during a night out, but Parlatore maintains that Hegseth was not involved in those events.
According to Parlatore, there is a “kernel of truth” in some of the allegations concerning drinking while leading Concerned Veterans for America, emphasizing that the group of young combat veterans occasionally enjoyed drinks together after work. “When you strip away all the falsities, what you have is a bunch of young combat veterans who got together, did a bunch of great work, and after work was done they went to the bar and drank too much occasionally,” he stated. “That is not a scandal.”
The rape allegation remains the most serious. Parlatore reiterated that Hegseth had a consensual encounter with the accuser, stressing that no criminal charges were filed against him.
In a post on social media, Hegseth asserted his determination to remain in his position, saying, “Our warriors never back down, & neither will I.” Support from those close to Trump indicates that the president-elect appreciates Hegseth's staunch pushback against the allegations and has expressed a desire for his team to support the nominee fiercely.
Parlatore mentioned Hegseth's eagerness for an FBI background check, a standard procedure for nominees that has been delayed until the Trump team signed an agreement for the investigation on December 3. “Pete cannot wait for the FBI to investigate him because he believes that the FBI is going to do what — don’t take this personally — what the media failed to do,” Parlatore asserted.
Although the transition team at Mar-a-Lago may be surprised by the allegations, Hegseth has been aware of them and has consistently disputed them. Parlatore previously sent a letter to a former employee of Concerned Veterans of America, accusing her of trying to tarnish Hegseth's reputation through misleading stories. He indicated that Hegseth would take legal action if necessary.
Now, as the nominee for a significant governmental role, Hegseth's background is under scrutiny, and senators on Capitol Hill are questioning him about the allegations. “Any questions that they have, he’s answering very directly,” said Parlatore.
Sen. Roger Wicker revealed that Hegseth promised to cease drinking if confirmed. In his interview with Megyn Kelly, Hegseth noted that discussions with Senate Republicans have been mostly encouraging, including dialogues surrounding his sexual history. “You’d be surprised how little that has come up,” he stated.
Meridith McGraw contributed to this report.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
Hegseth's attorney, Timothy Parlatore, is actively countering the allegations claiming that the military veteran and Fox News host did not sexually assault a woman, drank excessively, or engage in other misconduct. “He is looking forward to the FBI investigation and he wants it to start now,” Parlatore stated in an interview with PMG.
Despite their efforts, the outcome remains uncertain. While Trump continues to show public support for Hegseth's nomination, sources close to the president-elect indicate he is considering alternatives, including the potential nomination of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Hegseth's discussions included a crucial meeting with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a combat veteran and survivor of sexual assault, yet it remains unclear if he won her endorsement. She described their conversation as “frank and thorough” but offered no indication of support.
In a detailed interview on SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Show” and through various posts on social media, Hegseth depicted himself as a victim of what he termed a “textbook manufactured media takedown.” He has committed to combating the accusations, which include a claim from a woman alleging he sexually assaulted her following a night of drinking at a Republican event in Monterey, California, in 2017. Although he was not charged in that case, he reached a financial settlement with the accuser, raising questions about whether he disclosed this information to the Trump transition team.
Parlatore defended Hegseth's interactions with the transition team, asserting that it is not customary to disclose such allegations. “It’s not something that you would necessarily be expected to disclose,” he explained, noting that the question surrounding false accusations typically does not arise in background checks.
He also refuted claims regarding Hegseth's leadership at two veterans organizations, which included allegations of excessive drinking, mismanagement, and overlooking staff misconduct. Reports cited by The New Yorker described instances of Hegseth needing restraint during a night out, but Parlatore maintains that Hegseth was not involved in those events.
According to Parlatore, there is a “kernel of truth” in some of the allegations concerning drinking while leading Concerned Veterans for America, emphasizing that the group of young combat veterans occasionally enjoyed drinks together after work. “When you strip away all the falsities, what you have is a bunch of young combat veterans who got together, did a bunch of great work, and after work was done they went to the bar and drank too much occasionally,” he stated. “That is not a scandal.”
The rape allegation remains the most serious. Parlatore reiterated that Hegseth had a consensual encounter with the accuser, stressing that no criminal charges were filed against him.
In a post on social media, Hegseth asserted his determination to remain in his position, saying, “Our warriors never back down, & neither will I.” Support from those close to Trump indicates that the president-elect appreciates Hegseth's staunch pushback against the allegations and has expressed a desire for his team to support the nominee fiercely.
Parlatore mentioned Hegseth's eagerness for an FBI background check, a standard procedure for nominees that has been delayed until the Trump team signed an agreement for the investigation on December 3. “Pete cannot wait for the FBI to investigate him because he believes that the FBI is going to do what — don’t take this personally — what the media failed to do,” Parlatore asserted.
Although the transition team at Mar-a-Lago may be surprised by the allegations, Hegseth has been aware of them and has consistently disputed them. Parlatore previously sent a letter to a former employee of Concerned Veterans of America, accusing her of trying to tarnish Hegseth's reputation through misleading stories. He indicated that Hegseth would take legal action if necessary.
Now, as the nominee for a significant governmental role, Hegseth's background is under scrutiny, and senators on Capitol Hill are questioning him about the allegations. “Any questions that they have, he’s answering very directly,” said Parlatore.
Sen. Roger Wicker revealed that Hegseth promised to cease drinking if confirmed. In his interview with Megyn Kelly, Hegseth noted that discussions with Senate Republicans have been mostly encouraging, including dialogues surrounding his sexual history. “You’d be surprised how little that has come up,” he stated.
Meridith McGraw contributed to this report.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
