Trump transition live: Pete Hegseth says no alcohol if confirmed after meeting with Republican lawmakers
President-elect’s pick for defense secretary dogged by allegations of sexual assault, drunkenness, Islamophobia and mismanagement of a non-profit, as Ron DeSantis floated as possible alternative
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, former Fox News weekend anchor Pete Hegseth, continues to be dogged by allegations about his past, potentially making his confirmation less likely. On Wednesday his candidacy faced an “absolutely critical day.”
Hegseth took questions from the House Republican Study Committee, met with senators, and promised incoming Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker that if confirmed he wouldn’t drink.
His mother Penelope appeared on his former network earlier to defend him, having previously criticized her son’s behavior towards women in a letter.
The Trump transition team is reportedly considering alternatives to lead the Pentagon — reportedly including Senator Joni Ernst, and surprisingly, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Meanwhile, Trump’s pick to serve as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Sheriff Chad Chronister withdrew from consideration, although Trump has since said he pulled the nomination over comments he made to pastors.
In another flurry of appointments, the president-elect asked his former trade adviser Peter Navarro to return in a similar role for his new administration. Trump also picked a NASA administrator, a secretary of the army, and a chair of the SEC.
Trump’s conquest: President-elect posts bizarre AI pic of himself with Canadian flag (on a Swiss mountain)
Trump’s DEA nominee backs out after Covid and immigration criticisms
Judge weighs whether to order Fani Willis to comply with lawmakers' subpoenas over Trump case
Nato chief warns Trump not to push Ukraine deal that would see Putin ‘high-fiving’ Iran
What is covered by Hunter Biden’s pardon?
With less than 50 days left in the White House, President Joe Biden has taken a controversial step he had previously vowed he wouldn’t take: pardoning his son Hunter Biden.
On Sunday night, Biden announced he had granted his son clemency for “offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.”
Presidents can grant clemency, including both pardons (forgiving federal criminal offenses) and commutations (reducing penalties) for federal convictions. Presidents cannot pardon those convicted of state crimes.
In June, Hunter, 54, was convicted of three federal gun charges related to his purchase of a firearm in 2018. Three months later, he pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges in September.
So what does the president’s pardon cover?
What does Hunter Biden’s pardon cover?
President pardoned his son just weeks before his sentencings in two criminal cases
‘2,000 Mules’: Dinesh D’Souza apologizes for false claims in election conspiracy theory documentary
Far-right provocateur and pardoned felon Dinesh D’Souza has issued an apology over false accusations he made in his 2022 election conspiracy theory movie 2000 Mules, acknowledging that his claims about illegal “ballot trafficking” during the 2020 presidential election were misleading and inaccurate.
In a lengthy statement posted to his website on Sunday, D’Souza said that his movie — which asserts that “mules” were paid to fraudulently deposit harvested ballots in swing states — had relied on “cell phone geolocation data” provided by conservative non-profit group True the Vote. That data, D’Souza noted, had turned out to be false.
Justin Barangoa reports.
Pardoned felon Dinesh D'Souza apologizes for election conspiracy movie
Months before the MAGA filmmaker apologized to a Georgia voter for wrongly accusing him of election fraud, his widely debunked film and book was pulled by the publisher as part of a defamation lawsuit settlement.
Kash Patel’s MAGA merch ventures — from kids books to pills that will reverse Covid vaccine
Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, has made a living hawking products to MAGA loyalists from “King Donald” children’s books to supplements claiming to reverse the Covid-19 vaccine.
Patel, a Trump ultra-loyalist who served as chief of staff to the acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller in Trump’s first administration, was tapped for the position on Saturday – despite being a vocal critic of the bureau, previously describing it as the so-called “deep state.”
Following his exit from Trump’s first administration, the right-wing operative has benefited from his close association with the president-elect.
In particular, Patel has flogged a suite of products aimed at the MAGA crowd, bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars from Trump-aligned businesses.
Here’s a look at his MAGA merchandise ventures:
Kash Patel’s King Donald books and other MAGA merch ventures
Trump’s FBI director pick has authored a trilogy of children’s books where the president-elect takes on villains named ‘Hillary Queenton’ and ‘Sleepy Joe’
Trump pick for DEA withdraws
Sheriff Chad Chronister, Donald Trump’s pick to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration has withdrawn himself from consideration for the role.
He wrote on X: “To have been nominated by President-Elect @realDonaldTrump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime. Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration. There is more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and a lot of initiatives I am committed to fulfilling. I sincerely appreciate the nomination, outpouring of support by the American people, and look forward to continuing my service as Sheriff of Hillsborough County.”
Watch: Susan Collins wants FBI background check to evaluate allegations against Hegseth
ICYMI: Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon ‘an abuse and miscarriage of Justice’, says Trump
Donald Trump was quick to react to news of Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon on Sunday night, blasting the decision as “an abuse and miscarriage of Justice.”
In a short post to his social media platform less than an hour after the official announcement, the president mused over pardons for those convicted in the violent insurrection on January 6 2021.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Trump slams Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon as ‘abuse and miscarriage of Justice’
In a short post to his social media platform less than an hour after the official announcement, the president mused over pardons for those convicted in the violent insurrection on January 6 2021
Watch: Lindsey Graham calls allegations about Trump defense pick Hegseth ‘disturbing'
Full story: Trump attorneys call on hush money judge to toss criminal conviction — citing Hunter Biden’s pardon
Donald Trump’s attorneys are calling on the judge overseeing his hush money case to toss it altogether, pointing to President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter, and raising the idea that presidential “immunity” should apply to the president-elect.
The “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency violate the Presidential immunity doctrine because they threaten the functioning of the federal government,” attorneys wrote in a 72-page filing made public on Tuesday.
Alex Woodward has the details.
Trump attorneys ask hush money judge to toss conviction after Hunter Biden pardon
Judge Merchan has postponed Trump’s sentencing and is hearing arguments on whether to throw out the case after his election
Democrats are turning to governors to block Trump and be faces of party
With their party hollowed out on the national stage, the eyes of many Democrats are now turning to state leaders as they search for a new bench of candidates for 2028 as well as signs of life for the resistance to the GOP White House.
John Bowden has the details.
Democrats are turning to governors to block Trump and lead the party
With major deportation push on the horizon, state leaders prepare to lead a second resistance against a Trump White House
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