WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Elizabeth Warren has called on Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, to address further inquiries about his prior actions and comments before his confirmation hearing scheduled for next Tuesday.
In a letter dispatched to Hegseth on Monday, the Massachusetts Democrat requested that the former Fox News host and Army veteran provide responses by Friday to queries concerning allegations of past alcohol consumption, sexual misconduct, and mishandling of finances within veterans organizations — all of which Hegseth has refuted. Warren is also seeking clarification on Hegseth’s public statements regarding minorities, women, and LGBTQ individuals serving in the military.
Hegseth enjoys backing from certain veterans groups who assert that the military has placed excessive emphasis on diversity to the detriment of combat readiness. A faction of former Navy SEALs is organizing a demonstration in support of Hegseth in Washington next week.
Bill Brown, a former SEAL spearheading the rally, remarked, “One of the most significant failings in current military and Pentagon leadership is the fixation on inconsequential matters. The military should not be treated as a social justice experiment.”
Supporters of Hegseth have underscored that numerous questions about his past conduct have surfaced from reports reliant on anonymous sources. However, some queries pertain to remarks he has made during interviews or published in his written works.
In his book “War on Warriors,” Hegseth suggested that Gen. CQ Brown’s appointment as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff implied that “with the Pentagon now managed by, and predominantly staffed by, so-called ‘leaders’ like CQ Brown, we can infer that 17 percent of all black Air Force officers are merely promoted based on their appearance — not their leadership abilities.”
Hegseth has also publicly criticized the involvement of women in combat, although he appeared to modify some of these viewpoints in meetings with senators.
Warren has expressed doubts about Hegseth’s suitability to lead, stating that she is “deeply troubled by the various ways in which your past actions and rhetoric suggest that you are ill-suited to head the Department of Defense.”
A spokesperson for the Trump transition team did not promptly respond to a request for comment.
