Pete Hegseth’s Name Submitted to FBI for Background Check as Lawmakers Call for More Vetting
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to run the Pentagon, has had his name submitted to the FBI for a background check, his lawyer revealed on Thursday. Hegseth is facing a tough confirmation process amid allegations of misconduct, including a surfaced sexual assault allegation from 2017, which he has denied.
Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy Parlatore, told CNN that he and his client received the FBI forms for the background check on Wednesday. Parlatore expressed confidence that the background check would “put to bed” the false stories that have circulated in the media about Hegseth’s past.
Despite Hegseth’s denial of the allegations, some lawmakers have continued to hold out support for his nomination, with Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker saying he is “looking to be supportive” after meeting with Hegseth on Wednesday. However, Parlatore also indicated that Hegseth is willing to release a report about allegations of misconduct during his time running a veterans’ organization, which was revealed by The New Yorker.
As the confirmation process moves forward, Hegseth faces a series of challenges, including the release of a settlement agreement he made with an accuser of sexual assault in 2017. Parlatore said that Hegseth settled the case because he wanted to avoid losing his job at Fox News during the #MeToo movement. However, the accuser’s name has been released, and Hegseth’s legal team has threatened to sue her if she speaks out about the incident.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, criticized the suggestion of a lawsuit, calling it “reprehensible” and saying that it would be a gag order on the accuser. Hegseth’s confirmation process is expected to be intense, and his background check will be closely scrutinized as lawmakers weigh his fitness for the role of defense secretary.