Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon, criticized the news media for what he described as a “fabricated media takedown” of Trump.
“The media has been publishing anonymous articles one after another, all aimed at slandering and destroying me. This is the dismantling of the media fabricated by textbooks,” the veteran wrote in an op-ed. Published by Wall Street Journal on wednesday.
The former Fox News host has come under fire over allegations of sexual assault related to consensual encounters and previous comments about not allowing women to serve in combat roles in the military. He also faces allegations of excessive drinking. of The New Yorker reported on Sunday Hegseth was forced to resign by two nonprofit advocacy organizations he ran over financial mismanagement, sexual misconduct and excessive drinking. NBC News reported on Tuesday. Hegseth's drinking reportedly worried his colleagues at Fox News, where he served as weekend host until earlier this month.
According to a New York Times article published last week, Mr. Hegseth's mother emailed him in 2018, saying that Mr. Hegseth had “routinely abused women for years” and “beloved.” He accused her of showing a lack of sexuality.
In a phone interview with The Times, his mother, Penelope Hegseth, said at the time that she sent a follow-up message apologizing for the initial email, claiming that her son and his wife sent the email “out of anger and emotion.” did. I was going through a divorce.
“That's not true. It was never true,” she told the Times. “I know my son and he is a good father and husband,” she added, adding that the emails released were “disgusting.”
Hegseth insists he won't back down amid the backlash and emphasized that idea in an op-ed. He faces an uphill battle for Senate confirmation.
Mr. Hegseth was scheduled to meet Tuesday with Sen. Ted Budd (R-Idaho), Sen. James E. Risch (R-Idaho) and Sen. Eric Schmidt (R-Missouri). It would take just four Republican senators to join all Senate Democrats in blocking his nomination.
“I have never backed down from a fight, and I have no intention of backing down from a fight. I am grateful that President-elect Trump has selected me to lead the Department of Defense, and I am working with distinguished senators and I look forward to an honest confirmation hearing. Show the trial to the media,” Hegseth wrote.
