Lindsey Graham Says Allegations Against Pete Hegseth Don’t Count, One Day After Calling Them “Very Disturbing”

senator Lindsey Graham announced that the allegations against the nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, which includes rapedon’t “count” as they come from anonymous sources, a day after calling the accusations “very disturbing.”

Talking to Sean Hannity on Wednesday, Graham declared: “I have known Pete for a long time. I served with him in Afghanistan. The people there said nothing but great things about him. The allegations against Pete are all anonymous sources. I will not make any decisions based on an anonymous source. If you are not willing to raise your hand under oath and make an accusation then it will not count. I’ve heard everything about all these people – nothing significant.”

An everyday beast noteneither Graham nor Hannity felt the need to acknowledge that the 2017 rape allegation—which Hegseth denies and did not result in charges—was committed by a woman. signed a non-disclosure agreement after being paid to keep the story quiet, meaning she could be banned from speaking about the matter. New York Times disclose Last week, during Hegseth’s second divorce, his mother, who was not named, told him that he had “abused” women and should “seek help and be honest.” ” self. (Hegseth’s mother told time she “sent her son an immediate follow-up email apologizing for what she wrote.”)

Elsewhere, the former Fox News host was charged in a whistleblower report, obtained by New Yorker, allegedly “became drunk on multiple occasions while acting in his official capacity [as president of Concerned Veterans for America]—to the extent that it needs to be done outside of organizational events.” The report also claims that “Hegseth had to restrain himself while drunk from joining the dancers on stage at a strip club in Louisiana, where he brought along his posse,” and that, when married, he “sexually pursued female employees of the organization.” (Reply New YorkerHegseth reports Hegseth’s attorney sent a statement from “an advisor” to the nominee that read: “We will not comment on outlandish claims laundered New Yorker by a disgruntled and jealous former associate of Mr. Hegseth. Check back with us when you try your hand at real journalism for the first time.”) The identities of whistleblowers are often anonymous to protect them from punishment; Donald Trump and several of his nominees to serve in his second administration swear use the power of the federal government to respond to perceived enemies.

Graham’s comments to Hannity likely would have surprised Graham a day earlier, who told CBS News on Tuesday that some of the reports detailing the allegations against Hegseth were “very disturbing.” and “it will be difficult” to resist.