Allegations surface as Trump nominates Gaetz and Hegseth for key positions

US President-elect Donald Trump has recently unveiled his cabinet nominations, stirring up significant controversy.

Among the nominees is Fox News host Pete Hegseth for the position of Secretary of Defense. Reports have surfaced indicating that Hegseth was involved in a sexual assault allegation back in 2017, catching Trump's transition team off guard.

The nomination of Hegseth follows the earlier announcement of Congressman Matt Gaetz as the nominee for Attorney General. Gaetz has been embroiled in his own scandal, facing an investigation by the House Ethics Committee related to sexual misconduct. Despite this, House Speaker Mike Johnson has defended Gaetz and opposed the release of the investigation's findings.

On November 12, Trump officially nominated Hegseth for the Secretary of Defense position, prompting surprise from political observers. While Hegseth has military experience from his service in Iraq and Afghanistan, critics question his lack of experience managing large organizations, especially given the controversies surrounding his past.

According to a report from Vanity Fair on November 15, Hegseth was implicated in a sexual assault case in California in October 2017. The incident reportedly occurred at a hotel, resulting in injuries to the victim's thigh.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the city government of Monterey, California, said its police department had investigated “an alleged sexual assault” involving Hegseth, a Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran. The alleged assault took place in the early morning hours of October 8, 2017, at the address of the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa and was reported four days later, according to the statement.

The emergence of these allegations has left Trump's team scrambling, fearing potential further negative revelations. Trump's new chief of staff and legal team have communicated with Hegseth, who maintains that any contact was consensual. Sources indicate that Hegseth was not thoroughly vetted prior to his nomination. Hegseth's attorney stated that no legal charges have been filed against him while allegations exist.

In addition to the sexual assault allegations, Hegseth has faced scrutiny for having extremist tattoos. In 2021, he was removed from a security detail for Biden's inauguration after being revealed to have tattoos associated with white supremacy. Former colleagues reported him as an "internal threat," prompting his removal from the assignment. Hegseth claims that tattoos are religious symbols.

The nominations of Hegseth and Gaetz have become contentious issues within the Republican Party, seen as a test of loyalty to Trump. As the Senate prepares for confirmation hearings, the outcome of these nominations is uncertain, and the House Ethics Committee's forthcoming report on Gaetz may play a crucial role in the proceedings.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has called for preserving the ethics report for the hearings. Meanwhile, Trump has requested that the Republican-controlled Senate expedite the confirmation process using a special recess appointment method, bypassing typical FBI background checks for some nominees.

As Trump's cabinet nominations unfold, the controversies surrounding Hegseth and Gaetz raise critical questions about accountability and qualifications in government positions. The political ramifications of these nominations will likely resonate throughout the Republican Party and beyond in the coming weeks.