Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under fire for a Pentagon-produced video that watchdogs say looks much more like campaign material than an official message. The six-minute clip, posted to social media as Hegseth fights to keep his job after Republican midterm defeats, shows him outside the Pentagon touting his record, defending the war in Iran, praising President Trump and lashing out at Democrats and GOP critics who are pushing for his ouster.
Hegseth’s office admits that Defense Department personnel made the video, but will not say how much it cost or how it was verified. Groups such as CREW and Common Cause say this likely violates prohibitions on taxpayer-funded propaganda, lobbying and partisan politics under the Hatch Act. The issue arises as Hegseth faces a possible House impeachment vote and waning support from Republicans on Capitol Hill. A CNN analysis, available here, indicates that the video may not have helped Hegseth’s cause.
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