Trump’s Defense Secretary Pick Faces Scrutiny Over Security Guard's Military Misconduct

 

Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s choice for U.S. Secretary of Defense, is under increased scrutiny after it was revealed that he has been accompanied by a security guard with a controversial military background. The guard, John Jacob Hasenbein, a former Army Special Forces Master Sergeant, has a history of alleged military misconduct that has raised concerns about his role in Hegseth’s security detail.

Hasenbein, who served 22 years in the Army and completed eight deployments to Iraq, was found guilty of aggravated assault in a 2020 court-martial. The charges stemmed from a violent incident in 2019 at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where Hasenbein allegedly assaulted Ahmed Altameemi, a civilian role player in a simulated hostage rescue exercise. Witnesses and court documents suggest that Hasenbein kicked, punched, and left Altameemi hogtied in a pool of his own blood, resulting in serious injuries, including a broken nose and significant facial trauma.

Despite the guilty verdict, the case was marred by procedural issues. A mistrial was declared after it was revealed that a fellow soldier had improperly influenced a juror. The Army did not proceed with a retrial, and Hasenbein retired from the military without a conviction, maintaining his innocence.

Hegseth, who has been an outspoken critic of military leadership, describing it as "Marxist" and too "woke," defended his decision to have Hasenbein as part of his security team. Through his attorney, Timothy Parlatore, Hegseth claimed that Hasenbein was a "victim of unjust treatment by a broken military justice system." However, it remains unclear whether Hegseth was aware of Hasenbein’s past conduct when making his selection.

The incident adds to a growing list of controversies surrounding Hegseth’s potential nomination as Secretary of Defense, which also includes allegations of excessive alcohol use and a previously settled sexual assault accusation.

Altameemi, the victim in the 2019 assault, has expressed disbelief over Hasenbein’s continued employment, stating, “He is not a safe man. Don’t they do any background checks?” His statement highlights the ongoing concerns about Hasenbein's conduct and the scrutiny of Hegseth’s leadership choices.