Recent reports have brought renewed scrutiny to Pete Hegseth, a prominent figure in conservative media, particularly concerning his past conduct and its potential implications for high-level government positions. This article delves into the serious allegations that have surfaced regarding Hegseth’s behavior during his tenure at a veterans advocacy group, Concerned Veterans for America (CVA), and how these issues impacted his career trajectory and public image.
The catalyst for this renewed examination is the revelation of a financial settlement Pete Hegseth reportedly made to a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017. While Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing and has not been criminally charged, this revelation has reignited discussions about his suitability for positions of power and responsibility. Notably, during this period, then President-elect Donald Trump had considered Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, defended Hegseth, emphasizing the lack of criminal charges and highlighting Trump’s focus on “high-caliber and extremely qualified candidates.”
However, beyond this recent settlement, a deeper look into Pete Hegseth’s past reveals a pattern of concerning behavior that predates his full-time role as a Fox News host, which began in 2017. Documents and accounts from former colleagues paint a picture of Hegseth’s leadership at Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America, organizations from which he was reportedly compelled to step down due to serious allegations. These allegations span from financial mismanagement to sexual impropriety and general personal misconduct, raising significant questions about his leadership capabilities and judgment.
A particularly damning piece of evidence is a previously undisclosed whistleblower report detailing Pete Hegseth’s time as president of Concerned Veterans for America from 2013 to 2016. This seven-page report, compiled by multiple former CVA employees and addressed to the organization’s senior management in February 2015, paints a troubling picture of Hegseth’s conduct. According to the report, Hegseth was repeatedly intoxicated while representing CVA, often to the point of incapacitation.
The whistleblower report alleges a specific incident where Hegseth, while in Louisiana with his team, had to be physically restrained from joining dancers at a strip club due to his drunken state. This incident is particularly concerning as it reportedly occurred while Hegseth was acting in his official capacity as president of CVA. Furthermore, the report details allegations of sexual impropriety, stating that Hegseth and other members of his management team allegedly sexually pursued female staff members, categorizing them as either “party girls” or “not party girls.” These claims suggest a deeply unprofessional and potentially hostile work environment under Hegseth’s leadership.
The report further alleges that CVA, under Pete Hegseth, fostered a hostile workplace that failed to address serious accusations of misconduct. One particularly disturbing allegation mentioned in the report is that a female employee claimed another staff member, part of Hegseth’s team, attempted to sexually assault her at the same Louisiana strip club. This accusation, along with the general environment described, paints a picture of an organization struggling with serious issues of accountability and employee safety under Hegseth’s watch.
Adding to the gravity of the allegations, a separate letter of complaint, sent to CVA in late 2015 by another former employee, describes an incident of highly inappropriate and potentially bigoted behavior by Pete Hegseth. According to this letter, Hegseth was at a bar in the early hours of May 29, 2015, during an official tour in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where he was allegedly heard drunkenly chanting “Kill All Muslims! Kill All Muslims!” Such behavior, if substantiated, would be deeply offensive and raise further questions about Hegseth’s judgment and character, especially in the context of leading a veterans organization and potentially serving in a high-ranking government role.
In response to these detailed allegations, Tim Parlatore, a lawyer representing Pete Hegseth, issued a statement attributed to an “advisor” to Hegseth. The statement dismissed the claims as “outlandish” and “laundered through The New Yorker by a petty and jealous disgruntled former associate of Mr. Hegseth’s.” It further challenged the publication’s journalistic integrity, stating, “Get back to us when you try your first attempt at actual journalism.” This response avoids directly addressing the substance of the allegations and instead resorts to ad hominem attacks and deflection.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed serious concern about the whistleblower report’s depiction of Hegseth’s drinking habits. Blumenthal, who is involved in the Senate committee that would review any potential nomination of Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, stated in an interview that such reports are “alarming and disqualifying.” He emphasized the immense responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense, including involvement in national security issues, use of nuclear weapons, troop deployment, and drone strikes, all of which demand sound judgment and clear decision-making.
Blumenthal drew a parallel to the case of Senator John Tower, a Republican nominee for Secretary of Defense in 1989 under President George H.W. Bush, whose nomination was rejected by the Senate due to concerns about drinking and womanizing. Blumenthal highlighted that this was not a partisan issue, but rather a matter of ensuring that individuals in crucial national security roles are capable and responsible. “John Tower went down for these same kinds of issues,” Blumenthal noted, underscoring the historical precedent for rejecting nominees based on character and conduct concerns.
Pete Hegseth’s tenure at Concerned Veterans for America concluded in January 2016 with his resignation. While the Military Times reported it as a “quiet resignation” and a “mutual” decision amid “rumors of a rift,” sources familiar with the situation, including a contributor to the whistleblower report, indicated that Hegseth was pressured to resign due to concerns about mismanagement and alcohol abuse. Despite CVA’s public statement thanking Hegseth for his contributions and wishing him well, the underlying reasons for his departure appear to be more complex and problematic than publicly acknowledged.
An email obtained by The New Yorker, with the subject line “Congratulations on Removing Pete Hegseth,” sent to Hegseth’s successor as CVA president, Jae Pak, on January 15, 2016, further illuminates the internal sentiment within CVA. The email, sent pseudonymously by a whistleblower, included a copy of the report and conveyed the widespread “disgust for Pete” among the staff. It asserted that Hegseth was seen as unrepresentative of veterans’ values and standards, and accused him of “a history of alcohol abuse” and treating organizational funds as a “personal expense account” for partying and pursuing romantic encounters at CVA events.
Jae Pak, Hegseth’s successor who previously served as CVA’s chief operating officer, declined to comment on these matters. Americans for Prosperity, the Koch family’s umbrella political group under which CVA was launched, confirmed Hegseth’s resignation but refrained from further comment on personnel issues. Breitbart News, known for its pro-Trump stance, attempted to preemptively discredit the article detailing these allegations, framing it as a “screed” from a “jealous former coworker.” However, the whistleblower report discussed in the article is distinct from other critical documents circulating within CVA at the time, indicating a broader pattern of discontent and concern regarding Hegseth’s leadership.
The whistleblower report details numerous instances of alleged misconduct involving Pete Hegseth and other top managers. These include drunken episodes at casinos and hotel parties, such as a Christmas party where food was reportedly thrown from a balcony. The report asserts that Hegseth was “seen drunk at multiple CVA events” between 2013 and 2015, a period when CVA was actively engaged in a nationwide campaign to mobilize veterans for conservative political causes. This campaign, known as the Defend Freedom Tour, provided Hegseth and his team with extensive travel opportunities, during which many of the alleged incidents occurred. Hegseth, leveraging his status as a decorated veteran and Fox News contributor, served as the public face of this campaign.
Individuals claiming to be contributors to the whistleblower report have spoken about witnessing Hegseth’s repeated intoxication. One source stated, “I’ve seen him drunk so many times. I’ve seen him dragged away not a few times but multiple times. To have him at the Pentagon would be scary,” reflecting the deep concern among former CVA staff regarding Hegseth’s potential for high office. Another incident described in the complaint allegedly took place at a CVA event in Virginia Beach during Memorial Day weekend in 2014, where Hegseth was reportedly “totally sloshed” and had to be carried to his room due to his extreme intoxication. Similarly, at an event in Cleveland the following month, Hegseth was allegedly “completely drunk in a public place,” causing disappointment among “several high profile people” attending the CVA event.
In response to these issues, CVA reportedly instituted a “no alcohol” policy at its events in October 2014. However, the whistleblower report alleges that Hegseth and another manager subsequently lifted this policy during a get-out-the-vote operation in North Carolina in November 2014. On the eve of the election, Hegseth was allegedly out with young female staff members and became so intoxicated that he needed assistance getting to his hotel room. The report describes him as “completely passed out in the middle seat, slumped over” a young female staff member in a van full of other intoxicated staffers. The report further details the scene of staffers struggling to get Hegseth into the hotel and to bed, highlighting the public and unprofessional nature of the incident. These events, occurring while CVA was actively involved in a Republican get-out-the-vote effort, reportedly caused widespread “disgust and shock” among those who witnessed them, further undermining Hegseth’s credibility and raising serious doubts about his leadership and judgment.
The accumulation of these allegations, ranging from sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement to public intoxication and inappropriate behavior, paints a concerning picture of Pete Hegseth’s past conduct. While he has consistently denied wrongdoing and enjoys a prominent platform in conservative media, these reports raise serious questions about his suitability for positions of public trust and high responsibility, particularly the role of Secretary of Defense, for which he was reportedly considered. The historical precedent of rejected nominees like John Tower underscores the importance of character and judgment in such critical roles, suggesting that the issues surrounding Pete Hegseth warrant careful and critical examination.
