The allegations that could sink another Trump Cabinet nomination
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What allegations are being made against Pete Hegseth?
But first, Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill yesterday amid a storm of controversy. A number of damaging stories have emerged since he was selected for the role, leading to concerns from some Republican senators and questions about his future. Trump's team has publicly defended him, and Hegseth said that Trump told him that he had his support. Let's recap how we got to this moment. The first allegation came from a woman who said Hegseth sexually assaulted her in a hotel in Monterey, California, seven years ago. She said she doesn't remember much, but remembers saying no, and alleges that Hegseth prevented her from leaving his hotel room. That's all according to a police report that was filed at the time. Hegseth was never charged, but he did pay the woman a settlement and maintains it was consensual. Yesterday, he was asked about the incident on The Megyn Kelly Show.
How did Pete Hegseth respond to his allegations?
Did you rape a woman in a hotel in Monterey? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. I've been honest about that encounter, starting with law enforcement, from the beginning. I may have been drinking, but I was cognizant enough to remember every single detail. And I'm not... here to say that my conduct was good. Being in a hotel room with someone that's not the person you're with is not okay.
I own up to that. Another allegation of bad behavior came from his mother. Last Friday, the New York Times reported that Hegseth's mother had sent her son an email in 2018 accusing him of mistreating women. At the time, Hegseth was going through a divorce. His mom's email reads, quote, I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, and sleeps around. Yesterday, she appeared on Fox News to clear up those comments.
What did Jane Mayer report about Hegseth's past behavior?
I want people to look at Pete and judge people or understand him for who he is today. Pete is a new person. He's redeemed, forgiven, changed. I think we all are after seven years.
Then, this week, Jane Mayer, chief Washington correspondent for The New Yorker, reported that Hegseth was forced out of previous leadership positions for, quote, financial mismanagement, sexist behavior, and being repeatedly intoxicated on the job. The allegations are based on a whistleblower report and other internal emails. Here's Mayer on CNN.
I mean, the behavior described by the people that he worked with really was the kind of behavior that would get anybody fired in almost any office in America. Near constant allegations of drunkenness, him being blackout drunk, having to be carried to his hotel room.
Mayer also described one incident that took a dark turn.
What are the implications of Hegseth's nomination for Secretary of Defense?
people that he worked with who sent it to the management saying he was really horrified by what he described as the quote-unquote despicable behavior, which was Pete Hegseth closing down a bar at 2.30 in the morning in Ohio, chanting, kill all Muslims, kill all Muslims, which again, of course, is concerning for someone who might run the Pentagon.
Mayer's reporting also found that Hegseth had run up massive debt while he was the head of the organization Veterans for Freedom, to the point where he was unable to pay its bills. A lawyer for Hegseth called the allegations outlandish and attributed them to, quote, a petty and jealous disgruntled former associate of Hegseth's. Since all of this, Hegseth has been meeting with senators to try to shore up support. He's told at least one that he wouldn't drink if he were confirmed for the role. But there are mounting concerns. Here's Senator Lindsey Graham on CBS News earlier this week.
Some of these articles are very disturbing. He obviously has a chance to defend himself here, but some of this stuff is going to be difficult.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What allegations are being made against Pete Hegseth?
0:34–1:25
2
How did Pete Hegseth respond to his allegations?
1:25–2:20
3
What did Jane Mayer report about Hegseth's past behavior?
2:20–3:16
4
What are the implications of Hegseth's nomination for Secretary of Defense?
3:16–5:41
5
What is the current political situation in South Korea?
5:41–6:45
6
How does the U.S. view the political crisis in South Korea?
6:45–13:09
Speakers
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