Sexual assault allegation, women in combat: 5 controversies at Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing
Financial mismanagement
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., questioned Hegseth about claims that the nominee had engaged in financial mismanagement while working for the nonprofit groups of Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America.
Blumenthal referred to financial decisions on the part of a defense secretary as being “life and death” decisions that affect “3.4 million Americans who serve our national security.”
Blumenthal described the occasions that Hegseth had created deficits while in charge of the two groups, with both groups reportedly removing him from power due to these and other issues.
When asked if he disputed the financial numbers that Blumenthal was giving, Hegseth replied that he was “extremely proud of the work me and my fellow vets did at Vets for Freedom.”
“A bunch of young vets, with no political experience, a small group, working hard every single day,” he continued. “We have letters submitted for the record from almost everyone who worked with me every single day including our chief operating officer, who will attest that every dollar we raised was used intentionally toward the execution of our mission.”
