Fresh inquiries are emerging regarding the FBI background investigation carried out for President-elect Donald Trump’s selection to head the Defense Department, just prior to Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing.
Reports indicate that the investigators failed to question either current or former staff members of Fox News who alleged, anonymously, that Hegseth engaged in concerning drinking behavior during work-related events. These claims were initially brought to light by NBC News in December. Rather, the FBI only spoke to a public relations representative from the cable network, as per a recent article in The New Yorker, referencing inside sources.
Fox News did not promptly respond to the Daily Beast’s inquiry related to the background check.
Individuals nominated for Cabinet roles and various positions in the Executive Branch usually must complete a background check performed by federal officials, which is subsequently provided to Senate committee members responsible for conducting confirmation proceedings.
However, prominent Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee, such as Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), have voiced their worries regarding the manner in which Hegseth’s background investigation was conducted.
“It is imperative that the report be available for public review so that we can assess its completeness ourselves,” Warren remarked to reporters on Monday evening.
Hegseth, a former host at Fox News, has been accused of sexual assault, impropriety with alcohol during work events, and financial mismanagement at a veterans’ nonprofit since President-elect Donald Trump nominated him for secretary of defense in November.
He has persistently denied these accusations, and a number of his previous colleagues at Fox have publicly defended him against the anonymous claims made when the report about his drinking was released. The Trump transition team has continuously backed Hegseth, labeling the claims as “baseless and untrue.”
Several sources have also informed both The New Yorker and NBC News that the FBI’s inquiry did not involve speaking with at least one of Hegseth’s former spouses. Additionally, investigators reportedly did not interview the woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017.
