Trump's transition team caught off guard by Hegseth allegation

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Politics

Updated 8:17 PM EST, Fri November 15, 2024


CNN — President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team was in the middle of announcing new Cabinet picks this week when they were informed of a sexual assault allegation about one of his previous selections, Pete Hegseth, stunning several members of Trump’s team who have since raised questions about the viability of his nomination, according to two people close to the situation.

Trump had announced he was tapping Hegseth as his next secretary of defense after only days of considering the veteran-turned-Fox News host and very little internal vetting. Within 48 hours, the heads of Trump’s transition team were brought a complaint about a sexual assault allegation regarding Hegseth. The campaign was brought information that aligns with what Monterey, California, police described as an investigation into “an alleged sexual assault” involving Hegseth on October 8, 2017.

Hegseth was a speaker at a conference held by the California Federation of Republican Women at a hotel during the timeframe when the alleged assault took place, according to photos of the event posted on Facebook. Hegseth has not been charged in any criminal case or named as a defendant in any civil lawsuit filed in Monterey County since 2017, and his attorney denied any wrongdoing.

But the nature of the allegations caused incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles to question Hegseth during a call Thursday, a source told CNN. Wiles asked Hegseth if there were any other issues the team should be aware of moving forward.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/15/politics/trump-transition-hegseth-allegations/index.html

[tinymontgomery]

1. He'll fit right in with the rest of the accused rapist n/t

[Submariner]

2. I thought Sexual Assault was a feature of a Trump appointee

That's what makes Pete so attractive to Trump and MAGA, chiseled cheek bones and a propensity to violently rape his date. A perfect Trump cabinet member.

[Tadpole Raisin]

3. Only the best people. nt

[FSogol]

4. So the Trump admin didn't mind his removal from the military?

From wiki

In 2020, Hegseth volunteered as one of the up-to-25,000 National Guard troops authorized by the Pentagon to be put on active duty to protect the inauguration of Joe Biden on January 20, 2021, but was one of 12 soldiers removed from that mission.Hegseth attributed his removal from the assignment to a "Jerusalem Cross tattoo, which is just a Christian symbol." Hegseth said his National Guard superiors determined his tattoos were connected to extremism. Hegseth had also been reported by a fellow national guardsman in his unit as a potential "insider threat" for a second tattoo, reading "Deus Vult," which has been used by white supremacists.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. All joking aside, that is genuinely a plus in their eyes

They think that shows he stood up to the "woke" military.

[FSogol]

19. Sadly, so is the sexual assault part. n/t

[republianmushroom]

24. Same people vetting that vetted the convicted felons supreme court picks.

Really doing an intense bank up job. Only the best people.

[BeyondGeography]

5. Hegseth might be wondering

what did I do that the big guy hasn’t done at least 30 times?

[Gore1FL]

6. They vet no one. Virtually everyone they pick is an agenda-ridden sociopath.

I imagine "caught off guard" is a normal state of being.

[tanyev]

9. Oh, there's a vetting questionnaire.

One question:

Do you think Donald Trump was:

A. A good president?
B. The greatest president ever?
C. Chosen by God to be the Divine Super Duper Smart Forever President whose feet you would kiss and for whom you would lay down your life?

Nothing else matters if the candidate answers correctly.

[Prairie Gates]

14. Supplemental Question:

How many times have you made the libs cry?

They're really serious about this whole "governing" thing, doncha know. I'm convinced Don Jr. is in charge of appointments.

[Xipe Totec]

23. They no longer require brown shirts; just brown noses. nt

[LymphocyteLover]

7. He wouldn't be a top trump pick without a sexual assault allegation

[Old Crank]

8. Just another fun filled day

In the Trumperverse.

[mwb970]

10. A trump appointee is a sexual predator? Impossible!

[Walleye]

11. Guys like this don't just do one and done. I'm sure there's other allegations.

[Prairie Gates]

13. They seem really well-informed and organized

[2naSalit]

15. I thought that...

Was a prerequisite for appointment; sex offender.

[travelingthrulife]

16. They were NOT caught off guard, CNN. They have no problem with his history.

STILL normalizing all this shit.

[33taw]

17. Just caught

[Irish_Dem]

28. Of course they were not surprised.

CNN lying for them as per usual.

They know he is a rapist and that is fine with them.

[City Lights]

18. Hmmm, interesting.

I thought an allegation like this was a prerequisite for joining the incoming administration.

[Jit423]

20. Shows you what kind of vetting will be going on.

Why were they shocked? We knew about the allegations before his team did? I think they are lying again. They believe that since Trump won House and Senate, people will be afraid to speak out against any of his administration. I don't think so. We will see.

[Ursus Rex]

21. LOL "raised questions about the viability"

... not "immediately scuttled," just made them second-guess it, probably for, like, a second.

[COL Mustard]

22. I'm sure it wasn't a sexual assault.

It was an early test of “Your body, my choice”.

Hegspeth is bad, but he’s not the worst of this week’s nominees.

I think pretty much any GS-15 in the Pentagon has better qualifications for SECDEF. At least they understand the PPBE process.

[Turbineguy]

25. Kakistocracy going off track?

We can't have that. Only the worst will do.

[yardwork]

26. Why would that matter? Gaetz has more allegations against him.

[madaboutharry]

27. The fact that they were "caught off guard" tells us three things:

1. He was not thoroughly vetted.

2. He failed to disclose and intentionally concealed the sexual misconduct allegations during an interview.

3. He most likely was chosen because he reminds Trump of
G.I. Joe.

[Escurumbele]

29. They were caught off guard but pleasantly surprised, they immediately shouted out "He is one of us...hip hip hooray!"

[Quanto Magnus]

30. here we go again

birds of a feather and all...

[C0RI0LANUS]

31. Redacted Police Report of Pete Hegseth Allegation

The City of Monterey released a redacted version of the alleged incident involving Pete Hegseth which is set forth below:

1. Date, time, and location of occurrence: Between 10/07/2017 at 2359 hours and
10/08/2017 at 0700 hours, 1 Old Golf Course Road
2. Date/Time of Report: 10/12/2017 at 1223 hours
3. Name/Age of Victim: Confidential
4. Factual circumstances surrounding the incident: The Monterey Police Department
investigated an alleged sexual assault at 1 Old Golf Course Road.
5. A general description of any injuries, property, or weapons involved: No weapons or
property involved. Contusions to right thigh.



Footnote: As Dick Cheney once accidentally wounded someone with a shotgun, Pete Hegseth reportedly injured someone with a throwing axe during a TV show.




Sources:

https://files.monterey.gov/News-Releases/2024/24_1114-PHegseth-Inquiry.pdf

https://wealthyspy.com/pete-hegseth/

[NowsTheTime]

36. Hegseth striking an innocent with an ax is a metaphor for his nomination..

[C0RI0LANUS]

37. Good shot. One misfire deserves another. "O brave new world, that has such people in it!"

[moniss]

32. Given his observed

demeanor I am absolutely shocked that he would assault someone.

[iemanja]

33. That's a requirement for working for Trump

Rapists of a feather.

[RainCaster]

34. His tats were a disqualifier for the Guard, but not the White House

What about those?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

35. This is what happens when you do not vet your nominees