Exclusive | Pete Hegseths lawyer, Sen. Cotton slam West Point for sharing false info about defense picks admission in possible privacy violation
Pete Hegseth’s lawyer and Sen.Tom Cotton slammed West Point on Wednesday for falsely claiming the defense secretary-designate was never accepted into the nation’s top military academy — in potential violation of federal privacy laws, according to letters exclusively obtained by The Post.Attorney Tim Parlatore and Cotton (R-Ark.) fired off a pair of letters to the US Military Academy’s superintendent, expressing concern that a public affairs officer shared “false information” with a journalist that could have blocked President-elect Donald Trump’s defense pick from confirmation.“Not only did Mr.
Hegseth apply, but he was accepted as a prospective member of the class of 2003,” Parlatore said in a letter to West Point Superintendent Lt.Gen.
Steven Gilland, disclosing a copy later tweeted by his client of the offer of admission in 1999.“The use of false statements to influence or damage a political nominee’s reputation is particularly concerning, as it may interfere with the democratic process and the fair consideration of candidate for public office,” he added.Cotton claimed that West Point’s civilian press rep, Theresa Brinkerhoff, also showed “egregiously bad judgment to share such information about the nominee to be Secretary of Defense with a known liberal outlet like ProPublica,” claiming that the reporter at the outlet was preparing “a derogatory hit piece.”“Perhaps there’s an honest mistake here, though I can’t imagine what it might be,” the Arkansas Republican said.“But I also can’t imagine this action was authorized or known to the West Point leadership.”A West Point spokesperson later told The Post, “A review of our records indicates Peter Hegseth was offered admission to West Point in 1999 but did not attend.
An incorrect statement involving Hegseth’s admission to the U.S.Military Academy was released by an employee on Dec.
10, 2024.”“Upon further review of an archived database, employees realized t...