It is a new scandal which taints the future Trump administration, less than two months before the inauguration of the future President of the United States. Pete Hegseth, face of the conservative television channel Fox News and former soldier, chosen by Donald Trump to become the next Minister of Defense, is experiencing a path strewn with pitfalls. The 44-year-old Republican sees an accusation of sexual assault dating from 2017 resurface, as well as rumors about his alcohol problems, which could cost him his place at the Pentagon. Names are circulating in the American press about probable replacements, starting with the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis.
The alleged facts date back to 2017. According to a report released to the American press, “the police were alerted after the request of a woman who accused Pete Hegseth of having sexually assaulted her, to be subjected to an examination in a clinic , four days after the incident, she told the nurse that she thought she had been drugged,” details the report. Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The case did not give rise to legal proceedings, the conservative media explaining that Pete Hegseth, in order not to compromise his career as a presenter at Fox News, had at the time paid his accuser to remain silent.
Rumors about his drinking
One rumor leads to another, the American press has reported other problems in recent days, such as the resignation from his functions at the head of two non-profit organizations, following allegations of sexual assault, consumption excessive drinking and mismanagement, reveals the New Yorker. According to NBC Newsformer Fox News colleagues also raised concerns about his drinking.
The appointment of the future Minister of Defense must be confirmed by a vote in the Senate. Republicans have a narrow majority of 53 seats out of 100 in the new assembly, but up to six of them have expressed reservations about the name of Pete Hegseth, indicates NBC News. In any case, he assured him that he will not give up: “Our warriors never back down. Neither do I,” said the former soldier on X, assuring: “The left is afraid […] of Donald Trump and me. That’s why she’s smearing me with false sources.”
Ron DeSantis as replacement?
Coming out of interviews at the Capitol with senators, the Republican assured that everything had gone “wonderfully” and said he continued to benefit from the support of Donald Trump. Nothing is less certain, however, as several names have started to circulate in the press about a potential replacement. The most likely could be Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a time rival of Donald Trump, whom he had sought to compete with during the Republican primaries, before withdrawing to support the billionaire.
It would be “a surprising choice”, comments the WSJ. And at the same time, the man who served as a Navy lawyer in Iraq and at the Guantanamo Bay detention center shares “same views as Trump on eliminating what they see as ‘woke’ policies within the military “, indicates the conservative daily. Among the other options mentioned: Elbridge Colby, a former Pentagon official and ally of Vice President-elect JD Vance, or even Iowa Senator Joni Ernst.
Donald Trump’s inauguration is scheduled for January 20. Since announcing the composition of his future government, the latter has already suffered the forced removal of Matt Gaetz, his first choice for the post of Minister of Justice, accused of sexual relations with a minor. From Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Elon Musk to former Hawaii Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, several figures appointed by Donald Trump are involved in controversies.