Pete Hegseth gets defensive when asked about his close relationship to ex-Trump attorney
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth got defensive when questioned by a Democratic lawmaker about his close adviser Timothy Parlatore.
Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) asked the Pentagon chief about Parlatore's role at the Department of Defense, and he expressed surprise multiple times when Hegseth was unable to answer some of his questions about President Donald Trump's one-time personal attorney.
"I'm not privy toevery professional position hehas held," Hegseth said when asked about his time working on the president's legal team.
"I will help you out,he did," Crow said. "You appointed him as your senioradvisor, correct?"
Hegseth told the congressman that Parlatore served in the Navy Reserves but conceded he was an adviser to him, and Crow confronted him with evidence when the defense secretary evaded his question about whether they traveled together.
"He travels with you,doesn't he?" Crow said. "There is public Instagram thatshows this, just say yes."
Hegseth also evaded a question about whether Parlatore worked at the Pentagon.
"He sits in meetingswith you and advises you, doesn't he?" Crow said, and Hegseth agreed that he sometimes did. "He maintains a desk and an office in the Pentagon, does he not? You don't know?"
"I'd have to check," Hegseth said. "It's a big Pentagon."
Hegseth agreed that he had commissioned Parlatore as a commander in the Navy Reserve in March 2025 and was proud to do so, but he was less willing to say whether his adviser had gone through a Senate confirmation process.
"I will tell you whatI'm getting to," Crow said. "He didn't maintain asecurity clearance when youappointed him as a specialadvisor, is that right? You don't know?"
Hegseth said anyone with access to sensitive material would obtain appropriate clearance, but Crow pressed for more details.
"So when you appointedhim as special advisor, he hadsecurity clearance?" Crow said. "I'm asking a simplequestion, did he have —"
Hegseth interrupted Crow.
"No, you areplaying a 'gotcha; game like youdo on TV and everywhere else," Hegseth said.
"Clearly you areconcerned about my line ofquestioning," Crow fired back. "You know where itis going, don't you?I think you do.Does he represent foreigngovernments? He has a privatelaw practice, does he not? You don't know? Someone who sits in meetings,you don't know?Does he currently represent any senior officers who are under considerationby promotion from you or youroffice?"
Hegseth said only he made those decisions, and Crow again asked whether Parlatore represented any senior officers under consideration for promotion.
"No, I'm the onewho makes decisions," Hegseth said. "He doesn't representanyone.He's a legal advisor and alwayshas been. He's a legal adviser to me on reserve duty and he always has been, and he does a fantastic job."
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