Pete Hegseth, US President-elect Donald Trump‘s pick for defence secretary, faces new allegations of misconduct. A recent New Yorker report details claims of alcohol abuse, sexual impropriety, and mismanagement during his time leading two veterans’ nonprofit organizations.
The report, published Sunday, cites a 2015 whistleblower complaint alleging Hegseth was repeatedly drunk while president of Concerned Veterans for America (CVA). The New Yorker reports, citing the complaint, “At one point, Hegseth had to be restrained while drunk from joining the dancers on the stage of a Louisiana strip club, where he had brought his team.” The complaint, compiled by former CVA employees, also alleges Hegseth and his management team pursued female staffers, calling them as “party girls” and “not party girls.”
The New Yorker further reports Hegseth stepped down from CVA in 2016 partly due to “concerns about his mismanagement and abuse of alcohol on the job.” The article also details financial troubles at Vets for Freedom (VFF), another group Hegseth led. It claims VFF incurred “enormous debt” under his leadership and donors ultimately reduced his role and compensation before he left in 2012.
Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy Parlatore, responded to the allegations with a statement: “We’re not going to comment on outlandish claims laundered through The New Yorker by a petty and jealous disgruntled former associate of Mr. Hegseth’s. Get back to us when you try your first attempt at actual journalism.”
These allegations follow a previous investigation into an alleged sexual assault in 2017. Hegseth was cleared of criminal charges, but later settled a civil case with the accuser. Hegseth maintains his innocence. He told reporters regarding the 2017 incident: “As far as the media is concerned, I’ll keep this very simple. The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m going to leave it.”
