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The editorial board of Wall Street Journal lit in President-elect of Donald Trump this week’s pick for defense secretary, concluding that “nominations made on the spur of the moment can also be withdrawn.” The editorial claimed that the former Fox News host Pete Hegseth he probably didn’t alert Trump’s team that he had paid off a woman who had accused him of sexual assault in recent years.

“Media reports say the impeachment took Mr. Trump’s transition team by ‘surprise,’ which could be a lesson about choosing unscrutinized cabinet secretaries on a whim,” wrote the editorial board at Rupert Murdoch-owned publication. Trump’s transition team has refused to use FBI background checks before making nominations, which has long been standard procedure.

The editorial argues that regardless of the reality behind the sexual assault allegation against Hegseth, the fact that he may have misled Trump should be disqualifying for the person who leads the military.
“Mr. Hegseth denies wrongdoing. But senators holding confirmation hearings next year may also wonder what, if anything, he told Mr. Trump’s transition team about the woman’s claim and settlement legal,” the editorial wrote, adding:

Whoever runs the Pentagon must have the confidence of the president. If Mr. Trump was not informed of this political liability before announcing the nomination, one might reasonably wonder what else Mr. Hegseth did not tell him.

The editorial then goes into the details of the allegation against Hegseth and her legal team’s defense — alleging that the woman was part of a #MeToo-inspired blackmail and extortion scheme.

“What happened in Monterey seven years ago may be impossible to prove or disprove, but even giving Mr. Hegseth the benefit of the doubt, it raises questions about his judgment, including whether he warned the president-elect that this could come out,” he argued. editorial, concluding:

“Mr. Hegseth has vigorously denied all allegations and no charges have been filed,” Trump’s spokesman said. “We look forward to his confirmation as Secretary of Defense of the United States.”

Maybe so, but the Senate will still have questions, and impulsive nominations may also be withdrawn.

Read the full editorial Here.

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