Hegseth’s history with alcohol shadows Pentagon selection

Hegseth claims that his heavy drinking started after he was serving in Iraq with an Army infantry unit and had a near-fatal experience when an RPG bounced off his car but failed to detonate. He claimed that he turned to alcohol when he got back to his Manhattan apartment after the deployment ended in 2006, estranged from the people he served with while his then-wife put in long hours at work.

“I would look around at ten o’clock and think, ‘What am I going to do today? How about I go have some lunch and have some beers? How about I meet my one or two friends and have some beers?'” Hegseth recalled in an August 2021 interview with “The Will Cain Show” podcast. And one beer leads to many, self-medication, and the belief that “I deserve this.”. For example, “Don’t tell me I can’t.”. “”.

In the years since, Hegseth’s career has been marred by allegations of excessive drinking. He went from managing a nonprofit organization for veterans to becoming a well-known Fox News host and, now, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Defense Department, a decision that is currently up for debate on Capitol Hill as some senators doubt his drinking habits.

According to Tim Parlatore, Hegseth’s lawyer, Hegseth was so “visibly intoxicated” at a Republican conference in California in 2017 that it allowed a woman to be the “aggressor” in having sex with him; the woman later told police that the encounter was a rape. Hegseth refutes that allegation, stating that the interaction was amicable and that no charges were brought.

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Six former Fox News employees, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal, revealed that Hegseth had a reputation as a heavy drinker. They worked closely with Hegseth and witnessed him drinking on the job or visibly drunk at work celebrations.

A few years back, at a St. Support workers at the cable news network set up a beer display for a holiday segment on “Fox and Friends Weekend” on Patrick’s Day. Two ex-coworkers who saw the incident and spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive episode claim that Hegseth passed the display table after the segment aired and drank each beer. Aside from the fact that the show ends at 10 a.m., the colleagues found the incident startling because the drinks on display had been left out for hours and were warm and stale. m. An early hour for drinking.

Hegseth’s excessive drinking at Fox News has been denied by Cain and many other Fox News staff members, who point out that no one at Fox has come forward with similar stories on file. A representative for Fox News was unable to verify the St. The incident on Patrick’s Day. Fox chose not to comment. The Post requested Parlatore to speak at the St. “These allegations regarding alcohol consumption on the Fox & Friends set are wholly untrue,” the statement read in response to the Patrick’s Day incident. Furthermore, the number of Fox News employees who have publicly refuted these claims in the last 24 hours using their names far outweighs the reported anonymous claims that cannot be verified. That is therefore completely untrue. “”.

According to a report by the New Yorker, which referenced an email from a colleague stating that Hegseth had “a history of alcohol abuse,” some former coworkers at Concerned Veterans of America, a nonprofit that he oversaw until his departure in January 2016, claimed to frequently witness him drinking excessively. While some of the group’s former coworkers told The Washington Post they had seen excessive drinking on multiple occasions, others denied it.

According to The Post’s analysis of Hegseth’s writings and interviews, he has been forthright about what he described as his alcohol use. “Avoid all forms of sin — especially sex, alcohol, and cursing,” he wrote in his 2016 book “In the Arena.”. Although he was “often insufferable (hypocritical) about it,” he acknowledged that he “fell short.”. “.”.

“This artificial façade of goodness was deceptive to those who knew only the pious caricature I had painstakingly constructed,” Hegseth wrote. Indeed, “I hardly trust someone who doesn’t like a few drinks and won’t use a well-chosen expletive without cause.”. “.”.

On the Will Cain podcast, Hegseth stated that his faith enabled him to “slowly but surely undo that cycle by the grace of God.”. “.”.

Hegseth, however, now denies ever having a drinking problem.

“I have never had a drinking problem,” Hegseth stated in an interview on “The Megyn Kelly Show” on Wednesday. “”.

“Nobody has ever told me that I should consider getting help for my drinking. Never, he uttered. He went on to say that although he has never sought professional counseling or assistance for his drinking, “I respect and appreciate people who do.”. “.”.

Hegseth also mentioned that the “two J’s”—Jesus Christ and his present spouse, Jennifer—assist in helping him overcome his problems. He claimed that he wouldn’t be sitting here at this moment without them. Hegseth went on to say he would abstain from alcohol if confirmed and compares the position of defense secretary to being deployed.

“I will not have a drop of alcohol on my lips while I’m doing this, which is the biggest deployment of my life,” he stated in his interview with Kelly on Wednesday.

As evidenced by the 1989 Senate vote to reject John Tower for the position due to accusations of drinking and womanizing, ongoing inquiries regarding the extent of his drinking bring to light a problem that has historically been pertinent in defense secretary nominations.

“We simply cannot have a secretary of defense who regularly drinks,” Sen. On Tuesday, Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) stated as Hegseth addressed Republicans on the Hill in an attempt to allay worries about his candidacy. “I learned that he has that issue under control. that it’s no longer an issue. I’m satisfied if he assures me that’s the case because I’ve seen public statements to that effect. “.”.

On Wednesday, Hegseth stated on Kelly’s show that he spoke with Trump that morning and still has his support, despite not answering The Post’s requests for comment.

Trump has defended a number of aides and appointees who have been accused of sexual assault or indiscretion, but he has long detested the misuse of alcohol by those in his immediate vicinity, especially since his brother Fred Trump Jr. passed away. who died at the age of 42 from diseases associated with alcoholism.

According to two people familiar with Trump’s thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, the claims regarding Hegseth’s excessive drinking have disturbed him. Trump frequently tells people around him that he doesn’t drink alcohol. Trump has been requesting that transition aides strengthen their defense of Hegseth and refute all of the charges against him. An inquiry was not answered by his transition team.

If a military member is discovered to have consumed alcohol while on duty, there could be severe repercussions, such as loss of benefits and, in extremely rare and severe situations where someone is hurt, a dishonorable discharge. The head of the Pentagon would be expected to lead by example in terms of moderation or temperance, but the secretary of defense is a civilian and is not bound by those regulations, according to former senior defense officials.

According to former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who held the position during the Obama administration, “it is a matter of discipline.”. It’s reasonable to wonder how serious his drinking problem was, whether he has acknowledged it and made an effort to address it, and whether someone who struggles with self-discipline can effectively discipline others. “You can’t be a warrior, a fighter, if you’re having problems drinking,” the statement reads. “”.

Concerns regarding Hegseth’s alcohol consumption are exacerbated by the fact that he has never managed an organization nearly as big and intricate as the Defense Department, which employs 1 million civilians and 2 million members of the uniformed armed forces, according to Panetta, who previously served as CIA director, White House chief of staff, and a member of Congress before taking over the Pentagon.

It was unclear whether Hegseth was making any progress in calming concerns about his previous behavior as he continued to meet with senators on Wednesday. The incoming majority leader, Sen. John Thune, stated that Hegseth needs to respond to the lawmakers’ worries.

According to Thune, “he will have to respond to the challenging questions that are being posed.”.

“It led to a bottle.”.

Although a Cabinet nominee’s past intoxication is not prohibited, senators were concerned in 1989 when an FBI investigation revealed that Tower—President George H. W. It was reported that Bush’s nominee, who had a history of alcohol abuse, had stopped by 1983. In a Senate controlled by Democrats, Tower’s nomination was lost in a vote that was primarily party-line.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter dismissed his then-Lt. Col. senior military assistant in 2015. General. Ronald Lewis was accused of frequently drinking too much and acting inappropriately around female employees while on official business trips both domestically and overseas. Upon Lewis’s termination, Carter stated that he expected “the highest possible standards of conduct from the men and women in this department, particularly from those serving in the most senior positions.” Later, the office of the Defense Department Inspector General confirmed a number of accusations made against him.

After leaving the Army National Guard as a major in 2021, Hegseth first became well-known in the political community as a prominent supporter of an interventionist military strategy.

When he was serving in Iraq from 2005 to 2006, he claimed on Will Cain’s podcast that an RPG struck his car and that he would have been “dead as a doornail” if it had exploded. He claimed to have dealt with “a form of posttraumatic stress disorder” by mentally reliving combat-related events over and over. He added that it took some time to get used to normal life after returning home because it felt “really dull and really inconsequential and really stupid.”. “Usually, at least for me, it resulted in a bottle, and that’s how you handle it. But you can’t do that forever, of course, and we are grateful for God’s grace because without it, many men would never succeed. “”.

Hegseth said, “Oh yeah,” when Cain asked him if he drank a lot after returning from battle. “”.

In 2012, he served in Afghanistan as a member of the National Guard. After searching for the next phase of his life by July 2012, Hegseth returned and took on the role of founding president and CEO of CVA, formerly known as Vets for Economic Freedom. Interviews and tax returns reveal that the network founded by billionaire businessmen Charles and David Koch provided the majority of the group’s funding.

Hegseth served as the spokesperson and public face for CVA, which met with veterans and advocated for causes like improved access to healthcare by holding town halls and concerts across the nation. By making sporadic appearances on Fox News, Hegseth raised his profile in the public eye.

There were indications of unrest, though, behind the scenes.

In interviews with The Washington Post, some former workers voiced their displeasure over money being wasted, senior staff members drinking too much, and Hegseth’s own heavy drinking and inability to keep the peace. Other staff members acknowledged Hegseth’s leadership and reported that they had never seen him drink too much.

One or more former Hegseth’s coworkers sent a seven-page document and an email to the group’s executives in 2015. The New Yorker reported that Hegseth was accused of having “a history of alcohol abuse” in these documents. “.”.

The report and the veracity of its assertions have not been independently confirmed by The Post. The “outlandish claims” were made by “a petty and jealous disgruntled former associate of Mr. Hegseth’s,” Parlatore told the New Yorker. “”.

CVA and Koch network spokespeople declined to comment, citing internal personnel issues.

More than three dozen people who worked with Hegseth between 2012 and his departure from the company in January 2016 were contacted by The Post. Some said, under the condition of anonymity to discuss personal matters, that they had witnessed Hegseth and others consume alcohol in ways they deemed excessive, while many chose not to comment or reply to messages. According to a number of women contacted by The Post, they had never seen Hegseth act inappropriately or consume excessive amounts of alcohol.

According to Holly Talley, the local director for the group in Louisiana, Hegseth “was a respectful person.”. Personally, I never witnessed him cross any lines. He was an excellent leader. “.”.

In January of 2016, Hegseth left the group. Marc Short, the president of the Koch-funded Freedom Works, which had been the main donor to Hegseth’s group, said that although Hegseth was not fired, it is “fair” to say that he was pushed out.

In an interview, Short, who claimed to have supported Hegseth’s work, stated that there is “no one simple answer” to what transpired, but that “there was a difference of opinion about where the organization should be going” was the last straw. It seems to me that Pete was annoyed by the pressure to adopt a more isolationist outlook. “”.

Hegseth denied on Megyn Kelly’s show that he was let go or fired from CVA, claiming that he left because of policy disagreements, including his hardline stance against the Islamic State.

According to a number of former officials, the Koch group was unhappy with calls for intervention in international conflicts. Three additional people who worked for Hegseth at the time and spoke about internal issues under anonymity endorsed Short’s explanation.

Hegseth became one of Fox’s most prominent conservative commentators after joining the network as a weekend host in 2016. However, a reputation for heavy drinking behind the scenes was described by some Fox coworkers at the time who spoke to The Post.

Other well-known figures at the network stood up for Hegseth. Geraldo Rivera, who co-worked with Hegseth at Fox, stated, “I can say unequivocally that I’ve never seen him rowdy or even drunk.”.

At a Republican women’s conference in Monterey, California, in October 2017, Hegseth met a staff member at the bar and accompanied her to his hotel room. Later, the 30-year-old employee reported to the police that Hegseth had sexually assaulted her. Hegseth refuted the accusation, claiming that the woman was the aggressor and that he was intoxicated. The office stated there would be no more comments, and the district attorney did not press charges. According to the Post, Hegseth later gave the woman an undisclosed payment as part of a nondisclosure agreement because he was worried that her accusation alone would ruin his Fox career.

Military standards.

Although no Republican has openly opposed Trump’s selection of Hegseth to head the DOD, some have made clear their desire for assurances regarding Hegseth’s alcohol consumption.

According to Chuck Hagel, a former Republican senator who served as defense secretary during the Obama administration, “complete transparency” is essential for anyone vying for a defense secretary position. That entails submitting to a thorough background investigation and a confirmation procedure that examines a nominee’s prior personal conduct as well as their policy stances.

“Background checks are crucial because they can reveal these kinds of defects and problems on nominees,” Hagel stated. However, Hagel stated that there is no official document that governs an official’s behavior once they are confirmed and assume their position. “You know the seriousness of the job,” he said, adding that it is up to the individual whether they want to eat dinner with a glass of wine or not. You’re aware of your duties. “”.

“We’re not all perfect, but drinking excessively or while working is definitely something you know is important, and you just don’t cross that boundary,” he said. It’s that easy. “”.

However, the U.S. S. Alcohol has long been a part of the military’s culture. S. . If drinking becomes excessive or results in other misbehavior, troops may face prosecution for a number of offenses. The Uniform Code of Military Justice, which is a body of laws that regulates U.S. A. troops, forbids drinking while on duty, and Article 134 is interpreted as a catch-all that addresses a variety of actions that are thought to be detrimental to discipline and good order.

Another catch-all that can be applied in cases of intoxication and adultery is conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, which could result from inappropriate behavior while intoxicated.

In response to a question about drinking that persisted after deployments, Parlatore stated that Hegseth’s experiences would strengthen his position as Pentagon leader.

He stated, “What matters here is that Pete not only experienced it, but also triumphed over it, just as I and many of my other friends did.”. The ability to comprehend the men and women in the Pentagon that he will be leading gives him a greater perspective. “”.

He has not publicly responded to Hegseth’s remarks regarding his alcohol consumption. Trump has stated that he has never had an alcoholic beverage, admitted to The Post in a 2019 interview that he regrets pressuring his brother to enter the family business—a rare admission of what he called a “mistake”—and claimed that his brother’s alcoholism was a warning.

Trump said he would have been like his brother if he had started drinking. In the interview, Trump stated, “It’s very possible I wouldn’t be talking to you right now.”. Something about the genetic effect is at play. “.”.

This report was written by Aaron Schaffer, Jeremy Barr, Samuel Oakford, Jacqueline Alemany, Jonathan O’Connell, and Marianne LeVine.