A veterans group’s letter stating that Pete Hegseth resigned from the organization “voluntarily” as opposed to being fired has resurfaced.
Randy Lair, trustee for Concerned Veterans for America, wrote a letter in January 2016 to Fox News, where Hegseth was a contributor, seeking to “set the record straight” about Hegseth’s departure.
“The truth is Pete resigned his position as CEO of Concerned Veterans for America as a result of a difference of opinion as to the future of the organization and so that he could focus on other endeavors, including his relationship with Fox News,” Lair wrote in the letter. “Pete was not terminated by the organization and, in fact, we at CVA worked with him through this difficult decision and mutually agreed the end of 2015 was the best timing for both parties.”
Lair went on to commend Hegseth for his “strong leadership” as head of the organization from 2013 to 2016.
The letter’s resurfacing comes following a New Yorker article that outlined allegations laid out by a whistleblower within Concerned Veterans for America. The allegations, laid out in a seven-page document, accused Hegseth of engaging in drunken behavior at organization events and sexual impropriety with female employees.
The report was first sent to senior CVA management in February 2015 and was later forwarded to Jae Pak, Hegseth’s successor, on Jan. 15, 2016, in an email with the subject line: “Congratulations on Removing Pete Hegseth.” The email outlined how Hegseth “treated the organization funds like they were a personal expense account — for partying, drinking, and using CVA events as little more than opportunities to ‘hook up’ with women on the road.”
Hegseth has denied these allegations, and he wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, published on Wednesday, that the media is peddling a “smear” campaign on him.
“They provide no evidence, no names, and they ignore the legions of people who speak on my behalf,” Hegseth wrote. “They need to create a bogeyman because they believe I threaten their institutional insanity. That is the only thing they are right about.”
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Hegseth was set to meet with several senators on Wednesday, including Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), which was expected to be one of the most crucial of his meetings as he needs Senate confirmation to become the next defense secretary.
With Republicans holding a 53-majority in the Senate, Hegseth can only afford to lose three Republican votes to confirm his nomination, assuming Senate Democrats are staunchly opposed.