Is Anyone on Trump’s Team Really Vetting His Candidates?

Donald Trump’s team apparently overlooked that Pete Hegseth, the president-elect’s pick for secretary of defense, bribed a woman who accused him of sexual assault.

New York Times Reporter Maggie Haberman told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Monday that the Trump team missed its payoff in vetting Hegseth because it was a “private deal.” Hegseth’s lawyer on Saturday approved payment after contacting Washington Post.

Haberman: “We were told they were veterinarians.” in question. “According to people briefed on what happened, this issue did not arise because it was a private agreement. Trump really likes Pete Hegseth. But this revealed something Trump didn’t like; This was an element of surprise and a negative headline.”

But Trump’s team’s review is skipped FBI background checksIt has historically been part of the presidential appointment process. Instead, Trump’s team is using private companies because they are trying to speed up the process and avoid disclosures that their rivals could use.

But avoiding a security process that has been used since the Eisenhower administration backfired on the Hegseth case also likely prevented any security issues with Trump’s other picks from being revealed. Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, which has a controversial past. Trump’s nominee for secretary of health and human services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., also has a history of questioning his ability to qualify. security clearance.

Trump looks like this pending His selection of Hegseth despite sexual assault allegations will likely lead to a showdown with Senate Republicans. Her selection of Attorney General Matt Gaetz also faced opposition due to the House Ethics Committee’s investigation of the former congressman. allegations That he trafficked an underage girl and had sex with her at a party in 2017. It seems Trump is already testing his limits as president, weeks after his election.