Pete Hegseth has put our troops in harm's way and failed the American people. He needs to go and we need your help.
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FIRE HEGSETH
FIRE HEGSETH
The Case Against Pete Hegseth
Unqualified & Unfit from the Start
On November 12, 2024, President-elect Trump named Hegseth as his nominee for Secretary of Defense. Almost immediately, an avalanche of verified, credible reporting was published outlining his sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, and excessive drinking. These well-documented concerns led to Hegseth being confirmed with the fewest votes in US history.
Multiple credible reports of sexual assault; Hegseth’s own mother called him “an abuser of women”
Well-documented record of financial mismanagement of Concerned Veterans for America, the non-profit he ran until he was forced out
Hegseth often drank to excess while on the job, even bringing staff to a Louisiana strip club; a female employee alleged that another employee on Hegseth’s staff had attempted to sexually assault her at the strip club
Purges and Politicalization of the Pentagon
Hegseth used political loyalty tests to purge the US Armed Forces of more Generals and flag officers than any Secretary in history, including Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General CQ Brown. His dismantling of the JAG Corps and September 30th speech at Quantico, calling on those who disagree with his politics to resign, further politicized our historically non-partisan military.
Hegseth fired the top lawyers for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, calling them “roadblocks”
Hegseth threatened to polygraph test senior officials, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Senior Defense Department officials say the Pentagon is in “total chaos” as Hegseth fires his own top staffers due to paranoia about leaks
Signalgate
On March 15th, Hegseth shared classified attack plans (timing, weapons, targets) in an unsecure Signal chat that included Atlantic reporter Jeffrey Goldberg. Hegseth lied about the leak and then tried to cover it up; an Independent Inspector General report concluded that Hegseth both jeopardized the mission and put US pilots’ lives at risk.
Inspector General report also concludes Hegseth broke the law multiple times, including for his use of an app not approved for the communication of non-public information and for deleting messages that were required to be retained.
Republican Members of Congress, including Congressman Don Bacon, say “they’ve seen enough” and conclude Hegseth “ruined his credibility”
Domestic Deployment of Troops
Hegseth’s deployment of US troops against US citizens in American cities has been rebuffed by federal district or state judges in all five cities where troops have been deployed (Chicago, Washington DC, Portland, LA, and Memphis.
A Trump-appointed District Court Judge found the Portland deployment “violated section 12406 of Title 10 of the U.S. Code and the 10th Amendment.”
An Illinois District Court Judge not only ruled against the deployment, but also concluded that the Administration’s argument had a “lack of objectivity” and that their perceptions “are not reliable.”
Venezuela
On September 2nd, Hegseth allegedly gave a verbal order to “kill everybody” on a vessel suspected of drug-trafficking, leading to follow-on strikes killing shipwrecked survivors. Since that time, without any formal declaration of war by Congress, Hegseth continued to order strikes. As of December 10th, the number of these extrajudicial murders has surpassed 80.
Republican Mike Turner, who formerly led the House Intelligence Committee, said the strike was "completely outside of anything that has been discussed with Congress" about the military campaign
Retired Judge and current Newsmax judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano, who worked with Hegseth at Fox News, says Hegseth “should be prosecuted for a war crime”
President Trump has said he wants the full video of the strike released; to date, Hegseth has refused
The Timeline
The Timeline
Hegseth's History of Putting Americans at Risk
May 19, 2020
Publishes "American Crusade" where he rejects democracy and declares Democrats "enemies of the Constitution." He threatens political violence, stating that when it comes to “leftist ideology,“ voting is a weapon, but it’s not enough,” advocating for an “attack first” approach to political opponents.
May, 2024
States that our founders did not want America to be a democracy, calling governing by the people “dangerous.”
June 4, 2024
Publishes "The War on Warriors" where he argues that America should not be bound by the traditional “rules of war” and Geneva Conventions, but should fight “under its own rules.” He also attacks internal legal authorities in the military, calling JAG officers, "Jagoffs".
Nov 2024 - Jan 2025
Numerous sexual assault allegations come to light against Hegseth during his confirmation process, including a graphic 2017 police report detailing how Hegseth “took [the victim’s] phone, blocked his hotel room door when she tried to leave, and sexually assaulted her. Reports of excessive drinking also raise serious concern.
Jan 24, 2025
Hegseth is confirmed as Secretary of Defense by a 51-50 vote – the smallest margin in history – with three Republicans joining all Democrats and independents and voting “No”.
February, 2025
Hegseth begins dismantling JAG Corps, firing top 3 officers and Chief Navy Officer Franchetti, removing legal “roadblocks” to the President’s agenda in favor of rubber-stamp officers ideologically aligned with the Secretary
Mar 15, 2025
Leaks classified war plans in an unsecured Signal group chat – despite access to secure communications.
MAR 28, 2025
Multiple reports detail how Hegseth improperly shared sensitive information, including with his wife who lacks any security clearance. He also hired his brother as DHS liaison to DoD, a key post likely in violation of the 1967 federal nepotism law.
APR 16, 2025
A former top aide to Hegseth resigns, citing “total chaos” at the Department and warning that “the building is in disarray under Hegseth’s leadership,” as the Secretary spends more time rooting out potential leaks than running the Department.
Apr 20, 2025
It is revealed that Hegseth leaked additional classified war plans in a Signal Group chat titled “Defense | Team Huddle” with his wife, brother, and personal lawyer
Sep 2, 2025
U.S. forces strike a vessel suspected of drug-trafficking; reporting later claims Hegseth gave a verbal order to “kill everybody” that led to follow-on strikes on shipwrecked survivors. The footage of the additional strike is yet to be released to the public.
Sep 30, 2025
In an address to hundreds of senior military officials at Quantico, Hegseth calls on those who disagree with his politics to resign.
Oct 15, 2025
Hegseth restricts journalists' long-standing access to the Pentagon, limiting them from gathering or reporting information not explicitly authorized for release by his office. Every major news organization, including Fox News and Newsmax, rejected the extreme restrictions, refusing to sign the new policy.
Oct 23, 2025
Hegseth restricts contact with Congress for Pentagon staff, eliminating a crucial oversight process for Members of Congress.
Dec 4, 2025
Independent Inspector General report on Signalgate concludes Hegseth jeopardized the mission, put pilots’ lives at risk, and then lied about it; report also finds Hegseth broke multiple laws
December 2025
Fallout over Venezuela strikes continues; House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Jim Himes calls video "one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service."
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FIRE HEGSETH
FIRE HEGSETH
Sources
Signal Leak Investigation
CNN - "Classified Pentagon watchdog report on Hegseth's use of Signal sent to lawmakers"
CNN - "Watchdog finds Hegseth risked endangering troops by sharing of sensitive war plans on Signal"
NBC News - "Pentagon's Signalgate review finds Pete Hegseth violated military regulations"
ABC News - "Pentagon IG finds Hegseth could have endangered troops with Signal chat"
NBC News - "Trump's top intelligence officials claim no classified information was shared"
CNN - "Gabbard, Ratcliffe shift responsibility on to Hegseth for Yemen strike group chat"
JAG Officers and Military Leadership Firings
Defense One - "Bloodbath: Joint Chiefs chair, CNO, Air Force vice chief, three top JAGs to be replaced"
Breitbart - "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Fires Two Four-Stars, Top JAG Officers"
MSNBC/Rachel Maddow Show - "Hegseth defends JAG firings in the most unpersuasive way possible"
Military.com - "Fired: Joint Chiefs Chairman, Top Navy Leader, Air Force Vice Chief, Service Judge Advocates General"
JURIST - "Explainer: JAG Firings Spark Concerns About US Military Legal Oversight"
Lawfare - "A 'Sweeping Overhaul' of the JAG Corps Poses Likely Dangers"
American Crusade Book (2020)
The New Republic - "Trump Cabinet Nominee Proposed Terrifying Role for Military"
Robert Reich Substack - "Why under no circumstances should Pete Hegseth be entrusted with the U.S. military"
The War on Warriors Book (2024)
The Nation - "Donald Trump's Imperialism Is Murdering People—at Home and Abroad"
SuperSummary - "The War on Warriors Summary and Study Guide"
Department Name Change to "War Department"
Department of War Website - "HON Pete Hegseth"
Al Jazeera - "Trump changes the Department of Defense's name to 'Department of War'"
U.S. Army - "Hegseth announces series of War Department reforms in sweeping speech"
TIME - "Trump Signs Order Rebranding DOD as 'Department of War'"
Quantico Meeting and Domestic Deployment Comments
DefenseScoop - "Experts react to Hegseth's Quantico summit: 'Wrong message, wrong time, wrong audience'"
CNN - "Analysis: Trump's ominous move to recruit generals and admirals to his political cause"
NPR - "Trump defends use of the U.S. military against the 'enemy within'"
CBS News - "Trump, Hegseth rally troops at rare meeting, rail against 'woke' standards"
CSIS - "Takeaways from Secretary Hegseth's Quantico Meeting"
Boat Strikes and Deaths
Axios - "Hegseth says lethal Venezuela drug boat strikes have only begun"
CNN - "US military carried out second strike killing survivors"
PBS News - "What the law says about killing survivors of a boat strike"
NBC News - "Pete Hegseth says he didn't see survivors in the September boat strike"
The Washington Post - "Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all"
ABC News - "Timeline: US strikes on alleged drug boats"
Democracy Statement (May 2024)
Calvary United Church of Christ - "The Constitution, Religion, and Pete Hegseth"
Press Restrictions at the Pentagon
NPR - "Defense Secretary Hegseth requires new 'pledge' for reporters at the Pentagon"
https://www.npr.org/2025/09/20/g-s1-89713/pentagon-new-strict-guidelines-for-media
September 2025: Required journalists to sign pledge not to gather unauthorized information
NPR - "Defense Secretary Hegseth puts new limits on press access at the Pentagon"
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/24/nx-s1-5410513/defense-sec-hegseth-press-access-pentagon
May 2025: Restricted press movement in Pentagon hallways
CNN - "Media outlets, including Fox News and CNN, refuse to sign Pentagon's press access rules"
https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/13/media/pentagon-hegseth-press-restrictions-newsmax-fox-news
Major outlets refused to sign; joint statement from ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, Fox News
CNN - "Journalists turn in press passes as Pentagon clamps down on access in 'unprecedented' move"
https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/15/media/pentagon-press-hegseth-restrictions-journalists-fox
October 15, 2025: Mass exodus of journalists who surrendered credentials
The Hill - "Pete Hegseth changes Pentagon press policy: Five takeaways"
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5555797-media-outlets-decline-pentagon-policy/
Comprehensive coverage of escalating restrictions
Military.com - "Hegseth Restricts Press Access at Pentagon, Says Journalists Will Be Required to Sign Pledge"
Details on escort requirements and workspace removals
TIME - "What to Know About the New Pentagon Press Rules Drawing Accusations of 'Intimidation'"
https://time.com/7319117/pentagon-pledge-media-restrictions-hegseth/
17-page memo requiring authorization for all reporting
NBC News - "Pentagon places further restrictions on journalists' access"
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pentagon-places-restrictions-journalist-access-rcna232662
Quote from Hegseth: "The 'press' does not run the Pentagon — the people do"
First Amendment Encyclopedia - "Pentagon rules for the press"
https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/pentagon-rules-for-the-press/
Legal analysis of First Amendment implications