The latest attempt to discredit Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, has unraveled spectacularly, leaving ProPublica and West Point facing serious questions. What started as an investigation into whether Hegseth was ever admitted to the prestigious U.S. Military Academy has ended with a mountain of egg on the faces of his critics—and a boost to his confirmation prospects.
ProPublica had reportedly planned to run a piece questioning Hegseth’s claims of being accepted to West Point, after being told by the academy—on the record, no less—that no such acceptance had occurred. But when Hegseth produced a 1999 letter proving his admission, the story collapsed before it could hit the presses.
Now, instead of Hegseth being on the defensive, West Point finds itself scrambling to explain how it got this so wrong. A spokesperson admitted the academy had initially provided incorrect information about Hegseth’s acceptance, blaming the error on a failure to consult an archived database.
Enter Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), a fellow veteran and a staunch Hegseth supporter, who is demanding answers. Cotton has called for a full investigation into how West Point mishandled this information and whether the academy violated the Privacy Act of 1974 by commenting on Hegseth’s admission status at all. The Privacy Act explicitly bars federal agencies from sharing personal records without consent, with limited exceptions that don’t apply here.
2/ We contacted the West Point Public Affairs Office.
The first spokesperson wrote on the record: “According to the admissions office – Hegseth had not applied for admission to the U.S. Military Academy.”
— Jesse Eisinger (@eisingerj) December 11, 2024
Adding to the pressure, Hegseth’s lawyer Tim Parlatore is now involved, accusing West Point of making false statements with potentially severe consequences. Parlatore’s letter points out that such misinformation not only damages reputations but could also erode public trust in military institutions. He has called for corrective measures to prevent similar mistakes in the future, emphasizing the need for accuracy and integrity.
West Point has issued an apology for the “administrative error,” confirming that Hegseth was indeed offered admission as part of the Class of 2003 but ultimately chose to attend Princeton. However, questions remain: Why was any comment made at all without thorough vetting? And why does the academy’s timeline differ from ProPublica’s claim of a second confirmation of the false information?
The lack of clarity from West Point raises concerns about deeper issues within its administrative processes. If an institution as revered as West Point can falter so badly in a high-profile situation, what other cracks might exist in its system?
The entire episode reeks of political maneuvering. The left’s eagerness to undermine Hegseth ignores his years of honorable military service, which include two Bronze Stars. Whatever his critics may think of his politics, his record speaks for itself.
The botched smear campaign seems to have backfired spectacularly, turning the tide in Hegseth’s favor. Cotton has expressed confidence in his confirmation, and the missteps by West Point and ProPublica have only bolstered the argument that the attacks against him are rooted in desperation rather than substance.
