Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering the possibility of giving up his Pentagon’s duties to continue his political duties in his hometown, according to a new report.
The week before the Pentagon’s internal Signalgate review was condemned on Tuesday as “fraudulent”, the defense secretary reportedly began to discuss a possible 2026. Governor running in Tennessa, sources said NBC News.
According to the rules of the Defense Department, which prevents civilians from looking for political duties, Hegset will need to resign their duties to initiate a campaign.
If Hegseth was going, it would mark the biggest shock of Pentagon leadership after Trump’s administration had removed Charles Brown, a general HR manager in February.
Sean Parnel, the chief representative of Pentagon, denied that Hegseth had ambitions of political duties, and said the former Fox News host focused on “continuing to serve as President Trump”. Parnell said the sources were either “imagined” or the news station was “punk”.
After a stormy six -month Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly monitors life in a political office (AP)
The sources who said they had spoken directly to Hegseth said the defense secretary specifically mentioned a possible Tennessee Governor campaign, where he had his main place of residence. In a separate report, sources also said The Washington Post That Hegseth discussed in order to seek political services.
The state will organize an open race with the current GOP governor Bill Lee is constitutionally prohibited for a third term in a row.
The source said NBC News that they had discussed the eligibility requirements with Hegseth and his ability to win if he got to the race. The second person said they were talking to Hegseth about the reality of the campaign.
However, Tennessee demands that people live in the state for seven years before he will take up a position for much longer than three Hegseth lives in the state.
One source said they had discussed with Hegseth in the last three weeks. According to them, it was serious, not just the storming of the minds. Another source also described the conversation as serious.
Both sources said hegseth was considering running the Governor of Tennessee, it was not clear after their conversations whether he would dive.
Others in the inner circle of Hegseth said he did not plan to start the campaign.
One person who discussed a possible Pentagon with Hegseth said the defense secretary is “very, very clear” that he does not intend to run for political positions. The idea was “completely off the table,” they said.
GOP Governor Bill Lee is constitutionally prohibited for a third term in a row (copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights are protected)
It is reported that this is not the first time Hegseth has reviewed the political service.
Former Fox News owner 2012 He drove to the Senate’s place in Minnesota, but he left after he was unable to win the Republican nomination. Minnesota also has an open Senate location next year.
Since January, Hegseth has faced many controversy, including three older Pentagon appointments – Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll and Darin Selnick – which he accused of liberating the media of classified and not published information.
The Defense Secretary was included in Signalgate in April after the best officials erroneously included Atlantic Ocean Editor -in -chief Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal Group conversation, giving him a front row to discuss the upcoming US strikes in Houthi fighters in Yemen in March.
A Washington Post There was a report that the White House had stopped the HegSeth team team, allegedly using polygraph tests to break into the press after the Signalgate scandal.
Independent For more information, he contacted the Pentagon.