Name: Peter Brian Hegseth
Born: June 6, 1980 Minneapolis, MN
Trump Administration Position: US Secretary of Defense
War Crime Charges:
- Supports use of lethal force without congressional authorization. Defends multiple strikes on Central and So America, use of military against Mexico and N Korea.
- Removed limitations on commanders, resulting in significant civilian casualties of Houthis. Closed Civilian Harm Mitigation & Response Office and Civilian Protection Ctr of Excellence created to prevent deaths of noncombatants. Argues military lawyers and international law unduly constrain violence in warfare.
- Advocates troops disregard Geneva Conventions. Convinced Trump to pardon servicemen accused or convicted of war crimes, calling one a hero. Defended Blackwater contractors who killed Iraqi civilians. Implies a member of his unit conducted torture with his full support. Ignored an order not to fire on Iraqi fighters.
- Defends military deployment in the US.
- Self-image as Christian nationalist soldier “busy killing Islamists in shithole countries.” Evangelical who views Israel-Palestine conflict through biblical lens.
- Supports new rules threatening journalists if they did not sign agreements that would punish them for soliciting or publishing information.
- Shut down efforts to address climate change, removed mentions of diversity from Pentagon website. Describes equal opportunity, political correctness as ideological garbage.
- Forced to resign from Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America in the face of allegations of financial mismanagement, sexual impropriety and misconduct. Paid financial settlement to woman who accused him of rape.
Associations:
- 2002-21 Army National Guard combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, including operations in Guantanamo Bay. Deployed as infantry platoon leader to Iraq, captain to Afghanistan.
- 2016 Forced to resign from Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America in the face of serious allegations of financial mismanagement, sexual impropriety and misconduct. Received 6-figure severance payment and signed non-disclosure agreement.
- 2013-16 President, Concerned Veterans for America (backed by billionaire Koch brothers).
- 2008-16 Exec Dir/President Vets for Freedom, advocated expanding war in Iraq.
- 2014 Fox News contributor and co-host Fox and Friends Weekend.
- 2012 Captain State Natl Guard, active duty to train Afghan security forces.
- 2004 Deployed to Guantánamo Bay where he oversaw platoon of soldiers guarding detainees.
- Worked at ill-fated investment bank Bear Stearns.
Additional information: