In a surprising turn of events, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham revealed that Pete Hegseth, the nominee for Secretary of Defense, assured him of releasing his sexual misconduct accuser from the non-disclosure agreement.
During an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Graham shared, “He informed me that he would release her from that agreement. It is crucial to ascertain the credibility of any individual vying for a prominent position in Washington who has been accused of serious misconduct.”
Hegseth’s path to confirmation has been tumultuous, with allegations of sexual assault dating back to 2017. Despite asserting his innocence, he has faced significant hurdles in the confirmation process.
A statement from Hegseth’s legal team, as reported by the Washington Post, disclosed that he had entered into a non-disclosure agreement with a woman who accused him of sexual assault but vehemently denied the allegations. The potential release of the woman from the agreement would empower her to share her side of the story publicly.
Graham drew parallels between Hegseth’s situation and the contentious confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.
“During Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation, five individuals levied accusations against him. Upon scrutiny, three of these allegations were proven false, while the remaining two lacked credibility,” Graham remarked, alluding to Christine Blasey Ford and other accusers. “We cannot allow a repeat of that scenario with Pete. Baseless accusations from unidentified sources cannot derail his nomination.”
When pressed on his stance regarding Hegseth’s confirmation vote, Graham cautiously expressed his support.
“I am inclined to endorse Pete, unless undisclosed information surfaces,” Graham stated. “While these allegations are troubling, their anonymous nature raises doubts. Pete has shared his perspective with me, and it appears plausible. In the absence of concrete evidence, I believe he will prevail.”
