Pete Hegseth’s name has been submitted to the FBI for a background check, his attorney revealed to CNN on Thursday. This comes amid calls from some lawmakers for more thorough vetting of President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary.
“He received the forms yesterday from the FBI, and we’re working on them right now,” said attorney Timothy Parlatore to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on The Source when asked about the FBI submission.
Hegseth, a military veteran and former television anchor chosen for the role of defense secretary, wrapped up his first week of meetings on Capitol Hill earlier that day. He is working to gain support from key senators who will vote on his confirmation. Despite facing allegations of drinking and sexual misconduct since his nomination, Hegseth has denied the claims and remained resolute.
Earlier this week, the president-elect’s transition team cleared the way for background checks by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Justice Department.
“I expect the background check to debunk many of the false stories circulated in the media,” Parlatore stated.
After meeting with Hegseth on Wednesday, incoming Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker said he was still undecided on supporting the nomination but added that he was “looking to be supportive.”
Parlatore also confirmed his willingness to provide Wicker’s committee with a report, referenced by The New Yorker, detailing allegations of misconduct during Hegseth’s tenure with a veterans’ organization.
“This document—we have no issue sharing it with the committee,” he said, later adding, “If they ask, I’ll send it right over.”
Hegseth is expected to face a challenging confirmation process as allegations regarding his workplace behavior and treatment of women continue to surface. These include a 2017 sexual assault allegation that Hegseth has denied.
In the years following the allegation, Hegseth reached a settlement with the accuser, which included a confidentiality clause. Parlatore explained that the settlement was made during the #MeToo movement to protect Hegseth’s position at Fox News.
On Thursday, Parlatore disclosed that he had notified the accuser’s attorney that the confidentiality clause was no longer valid due to a breach of the agreement.
“If she wants to talk about it, she can,” he stated. “But she does so at the risk of a defamation lawsuit.”
Parlatore also mentioned the possibility of a civil lawsuit against the accuser if Hegseth’s nomination is derailed.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal later criticized the suggestion of legal action, calling it “reprehensible.”
“This is essentially a gag order,” the Connecticut Democrat said. “Let her speak freely to the Armed Services Committee. Threatening her with a lawsuit is, frankly, reprehensible.”