West Point Apologizes for False Claim on Hegseth's Admission Amid Senate Confirmation Scrutiny

Dec 12, 2024, 07:56 PM

West Point has issued an apology for an administrative error where a spokesperson falsely claimed that Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, had neither applied nor been accepted to the military academy. This misinformation led ProPublica, a nonprofit investigative journalism organization, to consider publishing a story accusing Hegseth of lying about his admission to West Point. However, after Hegseth provided documentation proving his acceptance, ProPublica decided not to publish the story. Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., has demanded accountability from West Point, criticizing the academy for what he described as an act of incompetence and interference in the political process. Hegseth, a veteran of the Army National Guard with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been meeting with senators as part of his confirmation process, amidst ongoing media scrutiny. West Point's acceptance letter, ProPublica's reporting process, Hegseth's lawyer's response, and the Senate confirmation process were also key elements in this unfolding story.