Trump cabinet latest: Hegseth and Gaetz’s nominations under fire over sexual misconduct allegations
Donald Trump’s cabinet picks of Matt Gaetz for attorney general and Pete Hegseth for defense secretary continue to face backlash
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump's transition team is firefighting serious allegations surrounding two of his top cabinet picks – Matt Gaetz for attorney general and Pete Hegseth for defense secretary.
A woman who gave testimony to the House Ethics Committee probing Gaetz claims that she witnessed him having sex with a minor, her lawyer told ABC. Gaetz denies all wrongdoing.
The investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use against the former Florida representative was dropped after Gaetz immediately resigned from the House on Wednesday following Trump's decision to nominate him to run the Justice Department.
However, there are growing calls for the ethics report to be released.
It comes as the president-elect's transition team is reportedly "stunned" by a sexual assault allegation regarding Hegseth that only emerged within 48 hours of announcing him for the top defense job, CNN reports.
Trump's communications director Steven Cheung told the network that Hegseth “has vigorously denied any and all accusations, and no charges were filed.”
Meanwhile, Trump has announced Karoline Leavitt will be his White House press secretary and tapped Doug Burgum to lead the Interior Department and be chair of the newly-created National Energy Council.
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Trump appoints White House Press Secretary
Donald Trump has appointed Karoline Leavitt as his White House Press Secretary.
Leavitt served as national press secretary for his campaign.
“Karoline Leavitt did a phenomenal job as the National Press Secretary on my Historic Campaign, and I am pleased to announce she will serve as White House Press Secretary,” Trump said in a statement. “Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator. I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium, and help deliver our message to the American People as we, Make America Great Again.”
Giuliani associates ordered to appear in court amid suspicions former mayor hiding assets
Two people in former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s inner orbit must comply with their subpoenas in the defamation case as Giuliani’s deadline to hand over his belongings closes in, a judge ordered.
A federal judge in Giuliani’s case against Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss — a mother-daughter pair of election workers he owes $148 million for defaming — ordered Maria Ryan, Giuliani’s business partner, and Ted Goodman, his spokesperson, on Thursday to respond to subpoenas requesting information on their financial ties to the former mayor. Ryan and Goodman were served on August 5.
The order comes weeks after the cash-strapped former mayor revealed that he, Ryan, and Goodman formed a new business as recently as August 30 and he is storing some of his property in a Long Island storage facility under Ryan’s name.
Kelly Rissman has been following the case.
Giuliani’s associates must comply with subpoenas over financial ties to former mayor
The order comes weeks after the former mayor revealed that he, his business partner, and his spokesperson formed a new business in August
RFK Jr facing pushback to his appointment from the right — but not for conspiracies and vaccine stance...
Robert F Kennedy Jr has questioned the effectiveness of vaccines and slammed the FDA’s “aggressive suppression” of raw milk — but some Republicans are warning he may not be right to lead federal health agencies for an entirely different reason: his stance on abortion.
Kelly Rissman explains.
RFK Jr facing pushback to his appointment from the right
Some Republicans want to block Kennedy on the grounds of his supposed support for abortion rights – but pro-choice campaigners say the incoming health secretary has actually backed a federal ban on abortion, raising questions about where he stands on the issue
AOC calls Tulsi Gabbard’s appointment the most worrisome of them all
New York Democratic Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said that the nomination of former Hawaii Rep Tulsi Gabbard to be the director of national intelligence is the most worrisome nomination so far among president-elect Donald Trump’s administration picks.
“I actually think, almost more than Matt Gaetz, Tulsi Gabbard’s appointment is devastating,” Ocasio-Cortez said on MSNBC on Thursday of Gabbard and the former Florida Rep nominated to be attorney general.
Gustaf Kilander has the story.
AOC calls Tulsi Gabbard’s appointment the most worrisome
‘Let’s be very clear. A Tulsi Gabbard nomination is a pro-war nomination globally. Point blank, period,’ New York Democrat says
Vance says AP should be ‘ashamed’ over reporting on Hegseth tattoo
Vice President-elect JD Vance has pushed back on reporting by the Associated Press that defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth has tattoos associated with white nationalists.
The Ohio senator wrote on X: “They're attacking Pete Hegseth for having a Christian motto tattooed on his arm. This is disgusting anti-Christian bigotry from the AP, and the entire organization should be ashamed of itself.”
Per the AP’s reporting (see the previous blog post for the full report):
In an email Gaither sent on Jan. 14, 2021, which he provided to the AP, he raised concerns about Hegseth, a major at the time, and mentioned only the “Deus Vult” tattoo. In the email addressed to then-Maj. Gen. William Walker, who was commanding general of the D.C. National Guard, Gauther raised concern that the phrase was associated with white supremacists who invoke the idea of a white Christian medieval past as well as the Christian crusades.
Here’s former Trump White House homeland security and counter-terrorism adviser Olivia Troye on the matter: “Pete Hegseth’s tattoos are the ones that white nationalists get. Federal law enforcement know these symbols well. Hegseth was banned from national guard duty at Biden’s inauguration for those tattoos. The Senate should consider this disqualifying for a nominee for Secretary of Defense...”
Trump defense pick was flagged as possible ‘Insider Threat’ by fellow service member
Pete Hegseth, the Army National Guard veteran and Fox News host nominated by Donald Trump to lead the Department of Defense, was flagged as a possible “Insider Threat” by a fellow service member due to a tattoo he has that’s associated with white supremacist groups.
Hegseth, who has downplayed the role of military members and veterans in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack and railed against the Pentagon’s subsequent efforts to address extremism in the ranks, has said he was pulled by his District of Columbia National Guard unit from guarding Joe Biden’s January 2021 inauguration. He’s said he was unfairly identified as an extremist due to a cross tattoo on his chest.
This week, however, a fellow Guard member who was the unit’s security manager and on an anti-terrorism team at the time, shared with The Associated Press an email he sent to the unit’s leadership flagging a different tattoo that’s been used by white supremacists, concerned it was an indication of an “Insider Threat.”
Continue reading...
Pete Hegseth flagged as possible ‘Insider Threat’ over tattoo
Pete Hegseth, the Army National Guard veteran and Fox News host, has been nominated by Donald Trump to lead the Department of Defense
Schiff calls for Gaetz ethics report to be turned over to Senate
California Senator-elect, Trump nemesis and congressman, Adam Schiff, has called for the House ethics investigation report on former congressman Matt Gaetz to be turned over to the Senate.
RFK Jr’s nomination sees stocks tank for drugmakers
US drugmakers saw their stocks tank on Thursday and Friday following the announcement that former independent presidential candidate and anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr is president-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Kennedy has faced widespread criticism for his baseless claims that some vaccines are not safe and effective and that they’re linked to autism. He has said that he will institute a purge at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and that he will remove fluoride from the public water supply and take measures to limit ultra-processed food.
Gustaf Kilander has the latest.
Drugmakers see stocks tank after RFK Jr is nominated to oversee health department
JP Morgan Chase analysts say they’re ‘not surprised’ sector has come ‘under pressure’ since Kennedy’s nomination
Watch: Trump not playing 4D chess with nominations
Jared Kushner expected to return as ‘outside adviser’ to Trump on Middle East
Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is expected to be an “outside adviser” to the President-elect on Middle East issues, though reportedly may not have an official role in the administration.
Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump, is a trusted advisor to the President-elect, having built up strong regional relationships during his time serving in the first Trump presidency from 2017 to 2021.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Jared Kushner expected to be an ‘outside adviser’ to Trump on Middle East
Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump, built up strong regional relationships during his time serving in the first Trump presidency
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