1. United States
2. La.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the nomination of Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. His history of sexual misconduct, financial malfeasance, and blatant disregard for ethical standards makes him wholly unfit to oversee one of the most critical and powerful departments in our government. Under Hegseth’s leadership at Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America, he demonstrated appalling behavior that disqualifies him from holding any position of public trust. Reports detail how he ran Veterans for Freedom into significant debt, treating donor funds as his personal expense account for inappropriate expenses. At Concerned Veterans for America, a whistleblower revealed that he frequently drank to excess, sexually harassed female staff members, and even led chants of “Kill All Muslims” at a bar. His behavior reportedly prompted widespread disgust among his colleagues. Even more alarming are the allegations of sexual assault, including an incident at a Republican women’s convention in 2017. If confirmed, Hegseth would oversee a department with more than 3 million personnel, many of whom have already suffered under the Defense Department’s struggles with sexual harassment and assault within the ranks. Appointing a leader with such a record sends a horrifying message to survivors and undermines efforts to create a safe and ethical environment in our military. Hegseth’s actions show a pattern of abusing power, exploiting resources for personal gain, and perpetuating a culture of misconduct. Allowing him to lead the Department of Defense would erode trust in our government and endanger the integrity of our military. I urge you to use your voice and your vote to block Pete Hegseth’s confirmation. The American people deserve leadership that upholds the highest standards of accountability, ethics, and respect for all individuals. Please stand against this dangerous and disgraceful nomination. I would like a response.