Several of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees are facing significant scrutiny, including serious allegations of misconduct, as the new administration prepares for Senate confirmation hearings.
Among the nominees is Pete Hegseth, selected for defense secretary, who has been accused of sexual assault. The allegation stems from an investigation in California in 2017, but Hegseth, a Fox News host and Afghanistan and Iraq war veteran, has denied any wrongdoing. Hegseth was not arrested, and Trump’s spokesperson Steven Cheung stated that no charges were filed. Hegseth’s nomination could face additional complications, with reports from CBS citing that he was once flagged as a potential “insider threat” due to a tattoo some military colleagues connected to white-supremacist groups. The tattoo, “Deus Vult,” a Latin phrase meaning “God wills it,” has been linked to Christian crusaders from the Middle Ages. Hegseth has denied any associations with extremist ideologies, and Vice President-elect JD Vance defended the tattoo as a Christian symbol rather than an extremist one.
Another nominee, Matt Gaetz, selected to serve as attorney general, is under investigation for ethics violations. The congressman from Florida resigned his position in the House of Representatives shortly after being nominated, which effectively stopped the release of a report detailing allegations against him, including claims of sexual misconduct, drug use, and misuse of campaign funds.
Trump’s pick for health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is also facing backlash for his anti-vaccine stance, which has sparked intense criticism, especially regarding his views on vaccine safety and hesitancy.
While Trump’s fellow Republicans control the US Senate, these cabinet nominees will still face rigorous questioning during confirmation hearings in January, with bipartisan scrutiny likely to test the resolve of the incoming administration.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, has called for the House Ethics Committee’s report on Matt Gaetz to remain confidential, despite bipartisan calls for its release as part of Gaetz’s vetting process for the role of US Attorney General. Gaetz, a former Florida congressman, resigned from the House shortly after being nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for the position.
Attorney Joe Leppard, representing two women who testified before the committee, has urged lawmakers to release the findings of the investigation. One of his clients alleged to have witnessed Gaetz engage in sexual activity with an underage girl in Florida in 2017. However, the Department of Justice had investigated the matter last year and chose not to file charges against Gaetz, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Gaetz, 42, posted on social media Friday, claiming that falsehoods had been weaponized against him in an attempt to ruin his career.
Meanwhile, Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the head of the US Department of Health and Human Services has drawn fierce criticism. Kennedy, an outspoken vaccine skeptic, has been widely criticized for his stance on immunization, with shares in vaccine manufacturers and healthcare companies plunging in response. George C. Benjamin, the head of the American Public Health Association, expressed strong opposition to Kennedy’s nomination, stating that his views on vaccines had caused significant public health harm and that he was “absolutely the wrong guy” for the position.
Trump has yet to address the controversy surrounding his cabinet picks. He continues to make appointments, with key roles such as FBI director and Treasury Secretary still to be filled.
SOURCE: BBC
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