Pete Hegseth

criminal-other · 2015-06-14 · New York State Supreme Court · Civil negligence lawsuit filed against Hegseth (and Fox News) was resolved/settled in 2019; terms confidential. Hegseth's attorney said 'the parties have resolved the matter.'

Sources: The Hill · NBC News · The Washington Times

sexual-misconduct · 2017-10-08 · Monterey Police Department (criminal investigation); civil settlement between private parties · Monterey County DA declined to file criminal charges in January 2018 citing insufficient evidence for proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Hegseth entered a confidential civil settlement in December 2020, paying $50,000 to the accuser; settlement included a non-disclosure agreement.

Sources: 19th News · ABC News · Defense One · NPR · CNN

ethics-violation · 2025-03-15 · Department of Defense Office of Inspector General · The DoD IG formally concluded that Hegseth violated Pentagon policy by using a personal cell phone on an unclassified Signal app to transmit sensitive, nonpublic operational information (including quantities and strike times of manned U.S. aircraft) approximately 2–4 hours before execution of strikes in Yemen on March 15, 2025. The IG also found he failed to retain the messages as required by federal records law. The IG report did not assess criminal violations and made no referral to DOJ; it recommended additional training. Hegseth declined to be interviewed by investigators and denied sharing classified information.

Sources: NBC News · CBS News · Lawfare · PBS NewsHour · FactCheck.org

abuse-of-office · 2025-10-01 · In October 2025, the Pentagon under Secretary Hegseth adopted a press credentialing policy restricting reporters to official statements and threatening to revoke credentials of journalists who sought information outside official channels; the New York Times, Bloomberg and other outlets refused to sign and had credentials pulled. The Times sued, and on March 20, 2026, U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman ruled the policy unconstitutional and ordered credentials restored. After the Pentagon issued a revised policy (effective March 23, 2026) requiring credentialed reporters to be escorted at all times, Judge Friedman ruled on April 9, 2026 that the Pentagon had violated his prior order, stating the department 'cannot reinstate an unlawful policy under the guise of taking new action.' Following further litigation, Friedman issued another injunction on June 30, 2026 blocking the escort requirement as applied to Times reporters, finding it likely retaliatory and a First Amendment violation — the third ruling against the Pentagon's press restrictions. The Pentagon has appealed each ruling; a circuit panel at one point partially stayed enforcement pending appeal. · Multiple federal court rulings (March 20, April 9, June 30, 2026) finding Hegseth's Pentagon press-access policies unconstitutional and retaliatory; Pentagon has repeatedly appealed and litigation remains ongoing.

Sources: PBS NewsHour · NPR · Bloomberg Law · Washington Times · Deadline

abuse-of-office · 2026-01-05 · After retired Navy Capt. and Sen. Mark Kelly appeared in a bipartisan video urging service members to refuse illegal orders, Defense Secretary Hegseth issued a 'Secretarial Letter of Censure' against Kelly on January 5, 2026, and initiated proceedings to reduce Kelly's retired military rank and pension. Kelly sued in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Kelly v. Hegseth, 1:26-cv-00081). On February 12, 2026, Judge Richard J. Leon granted a preliminary injunction, finding Hegseth's actions constituted unlawful First Amendment retaliation, stating Hegseth had 'trampled on Senator Kelly's First Amendment freedoms.' The injunction blocks the Pentagon from docking Kelly's retirement pay or reducing his rank while the case proceeds. The Department of Justice appealed to the D.C. Circuit; a three-judge panel heard oral argument on May 7, 2026, and reportedly appeared skeptical of the government's position. No appellate ruling had issued as of early July 2026. · Preliminary injunction granted against Hegseth/DoD; matter on appeal at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals with no final ruling yet.

Sources: CNN · NPR · KPBS · CNN