Trump's Bad Choice for Secretary of Defense

Trump’s embrace of war criminals during his first term was despicable, and Hegseth’s advocacy on behalf of the same war criminals ought to be disqualifying.

Trump has selected Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth, an Army veteran and Fox News host, lobbied Trump during the first term to pardon accused and convicted war criminals, including convicted murderer Clint Lorance. Trump’s embrace of war criminals during his first term was despicable, and Hegseth’s advocacy on behalf of the same war criminals ought to be disqualifying. The head of the Department of Defense should not be cavalier about respecting the law. Having a Sceretary of Defense who has defended and lobbied on behalf of war criminals would send a terrible message to everyone in the military and to the rest of the world. I don’t expect Trump and his allies to care about this, but the Senate should.