Kontrowersje wobec kandydata na szefa Pentagonu związane z oskarżeniami o molestowanie i nadużywanie alkoholu

Pete Hegseth, an anchor on Fox News and one of the most controversial candidates for key roles in Donald Trump’s cabinet, appeared on Tuesday at a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, where the main topic was the moral accusations against him.

Responding to questions from senators – mainly Democrats – about a series of complaints against him regarding alleged drinking on duty, sexual assault, and financial irregularities in organizations he led for veterans’ rights – Hegseth claimed that all of them were the work of anonymous individuals as part of an „organized smear campaign” led by the media and the left.

„Our left-wing media in America, unfortunately, don’t care about the truth. All they wanted to do was to destroy me. And why do they want to destroy me? Because I am a (agent of change) and a threat to them, because Donald Trump was ready to choose me, give me power, restore the Department of Defense to what it should really be, which is to conduct warfare,” Hegseth said, citing a number of letters in his defense from his former colleagues.

He admitted that he is not a „conventional” candidate for the position of Secretary of Defense, but that is precisely why he was chosen by Donald Trump.

PRESENTING HIS PROGRAM

Presenting his program, Hegseth announced that he would focus on „returning to lethality” in the military, restoring the „warrior ethos”, strengthening the defense industry, and confronting China. He also signaled a shift in focus and resources from Europe and the Middle East to Asia.

„First and foremost, we will defend our homeland, our borders, and our skies. Secondly, we will work with our partners and allies to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific region from the communist Chinese. And finally, we will responsibly end wars to ensure that we prioritize our resources to redirect them to the greatest threats,” he listed.

Asked about his approach to the war in Ukraine, Hegseth stated that „this is a presidential-level decision” and that Donald Trump clearly stated that he wants to end this conflict. „We know who the aggressor is. We know who the good guy is. We would like this to be as beneficial as possible for the Ukrainians, but this war must end,” he added.

Despite his promise to turn towards Asia, Hegseth was unable to name a single partner of America within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), incorrectly mentioning Japan, South Korea, and Australia in this context.

„CONVERTED”

Nevertheless, most of the questions focused on Hegseth’s biography and the deficiencies in qualifications that Democrats accused him of.

Asked by Senator Mark Kelly whether individual cases of the alleged acts against him (such as being carried out unconscious several times during official events) actually happened, he only replied that they are „anonymous slanders,” although only some of the complaints were anonymous. He also assured that although he is „not perfect,” he has „converted” and has been „saved by God, Jesus, and Jenny,” his third wife. He also pledged not to drink alcohol.

A former National Guard soldier also defended himself and withdrew from his previous opposition to women in the military, calls for non-compliance with the Geneva Conventions, support for torture, and his efforts to pardon soldiers accused and convicted of war crimes. Hegseth suggested that legal restrictions „tie the hands of soldiers in difficult combat situations,” but claimed that it does not mean his opposition to following the law.

Trump’s candidate avoided answering questions about carrying out a potential order by the president to use the military against demonstrators or in connection with the handling of immigrant camps. He added that he will act in accordance with the Constitution. He assured senators that he would also approach the military in a non-political manner, despite previous statements in which he called Democrats „not only opponents but enemies”.
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