Donald Trump’s transition workforce scrambled Thursday after Trump’s incoming chief of employees Susie Wiles was introduced with an allegation that former Fox & Associates cohost Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee to be Protection Secretary, had engaged in sexual misconduct. In line with two sources, Wiles was briefed Wednesday evening about an allegation that Hegseth had acted inappropriately with a lady. One of many sources stated the alleged incident passed off in Monterey, California in 2017.
In line with the transition supply, the allegation is severe sufficient that Wiles and Trump’s attorneys spoke to Hegseth about it on Thursday. A supply with information of the assembly stated that Hegseth stated the allegation stemmed from a consensual encounter and characterised the episode as he-said, she-said.
On Thursday night, Hegseth’s lawyer Timothy Parlatore stated: “This allegation was already investigated by the Monterey police division and so they discovered no proof for it.”
Trump’s communications director Steven Cheung stated: “President Trump is nominating high-caliber and very certified candidates to serve in his Administration. Mr. Hegseth has vigorously denied any and all accusations, and no prices have been filed. We stay up for his affirmation as United States Secretary of Protection so he can get began on Day One to Make America Protected and Nice Once more.”
Forward of the Thursday assembly, one high-level MAGA member conversant in the allegation stated Hegseth wasn’t correctly scrutinized earlier than Trump made the controversial choose. “He wasn’t vetted,” the supply stated. However the senior transition supply disputed this. “Hegseth was vetted, however this alleged incident didn’t come up.”
Trump shocked the political and navy worlds on November 12 when he nominated Hegseth to supervise the Pentagon. Hegseth seemingly already faces a bumpy highway to Senate affirmation. The 44-year-old cable information character and Military veteran has a history of constructing incendiary statements. Hegseth as soon as referred to as liberals “home enemies” who need “trans-lesbian black females [to] run every little thing!” In 2018, when he was a possible appointee to run the Division of Veterans Affairs, it was reported that he started an affair, and had a toddler with a Fox producer whereas nonetheless married to his second spouse. He later married the producer.
One Hegseth ally blamed the surfacing of the sexual misconduct allegation on GOP institution members who’re making an attempt to thwart Hegseth’s nomination. “They’ll attempt to kill all these nominations earlier than the affirmation vote,” the ally stated.
