Hegseth signed NDA, received six-figure severance payment after leaving veterans’ group, sources say
Peter HeggsPresident-elect Donald Trump’s embattled pick for defense secretary was handed a six-figure severance package and signed a nondisclosure agreement when he quit Concerned America’s Veterans. Payment is coming in accusation There were frequent incidents of financial mismanagement, drunkenness and sexual misconduct, as well as disagreements among leaders over Hegseth’s foreign policy views.
The veteran and current Fox News host signed a nondisclosure agreement when he resigned as CEO in January 2016, two sources associated with Concerned Veterans of America told CBS News. The person said the agreement included a financial outlay. CVA sources spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the legally binding contract and feared professional retaliation.
Public tax filings reviewed by CBS News confirm that Hegseth was paid more than $172,000 between October 2016 and September 2017, which was before Hegseth officially resigned from the US job. It’s been a long time since I’ve been thinking about the role of CEO of a veterans organization. January 2016.
Hegseth is still listed as the former CEO from 2016 to 2017, working 50 hours a week. Biography of Hegseth archived in 2016 website He was described as a Fox News contributor and host but did not list his ongoing role with America Concerned Veterans.
in a statement military times At the time of his departure, Heggs said he would be leaving the organization to focus on publishing a book and other promotional work, while the CVA said it wished him well “in all his future endeavors”.
Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy Parlatore, told CBS News late Wednesday that the payment from Concerned Veterans to his client was a “standard severance package.”
“They make everyone who leaves CVA sign a nondisclosure agreement. That’s standard for all employees. Not just Pete,” Parlatore said.
Hegseth on Wednesday pushed back on claims that Trump is Consider other candidates for secretary of defense. On Capitol Hill, as he continued to visit Republican members of Congress, he told CBS News he had no plans to withdraw his name from consideration. He also said he spoke with Trump Wednesday morning and the president-elect encouraged him to keep fighting.
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Experts consulted by CBS News said severance packages and confidentiality agreements for departing CEOs are common. They say such compensation is given out for a variety of reasons, including maintaining a professional relationship, serving as an advisor to the incoming CEO or providing a soft landing for the outgoing leader.
Hegseth has disputed allegations that he was forced to resign as chief executive. On December 4, he Forward a letter obtained new york post On X, said: “Read it for yourself. You will see that the truth is on our side.”
The letter was written in January 2016 on America Concerns Veterans letterhead by Randy Lair, a trustee of the veterans advocacy group.
“The fact is that due to differences of opinion over the future of America Concerned Veterans, Pete resigned as CEO of America Concerned Veterans so that he could focus on other ventures, including his relationship with Fox News,” Lyle said. “Wrote part of it.
He added: “Pete was not sacked by the organisation, in fact we at CVA worked with him despite (sic) making this difficult decision and both parties agreed that late 2015 was the best time for both parties… most importantly “It is clear that Peter Hegseth has voluntarily resigned from his role and CVA recognizes and appreciates his achievements as CEO.”
Sources at Concerned Veterans of America during Hegseth’s tenure told CBS News there were “differences of opinion” over the foreign policy views that Hegseth guided the organization to advocate for military intervention. The organization’s senior leaders strongly opposed the foreign policy Hegers advocated because of its historic mission to support conservative revisions to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
However, the source also highlighted elements not mentioned in Lyle’s letter, specifically an internal evaluation of Hegseth’s handling of the organization’s finances and alleged incidents of drunkenness and sexual misconduct between Hegseth and his Lawyer Pratole has denied these incidents.
Hegseth’s Financial Records at Concerned Veterans of America
From 2012 to 2016, Heggs led the Veterans Economic Freedom Trust, operating under the banner Concerned for America’s Veterans. Tax records show that in three of the five years he led, the organization spent more money than it raised through donations and other means.
Documents from October 2012 to September 2013 show the organization had revenue of $3.8 million but expenses of $3.9 million, a shortfall of $130,000. Hegseth’s CEO compensation is $67,500.
Filings from October 2013 to September 2014 show revenue increased by $15.7 million, but the organization spent $16.1 million – including $8.6 million on advertising and promotions – resulting in a shortfall of $428,000. Hegseth’s salary is $144,894.
Filings from October 2014 to September 2015 show Hegseth’s salary grew to $182,549 and the organization posted a surplus for the first time since 2011, with revenue of $14.1 million and expenses of just under $14 million.
However, when Hegseth was listed as outgoing CEO, the organization was once again spending more than it raised. Documents from October 2015 to September 2016 show the organization raised nearly $16 million but spent $16.4 million, leaving a funding gap of $437,000.
Documents show the organization’s expenses were cut after Hegseth left. From October 2016 to September 2017, compensation, salaries and wages decreased to $2 million from nearly $7 million the previous year. Travel expenses decreased from nearly $2.4 million to $416,000, and conference expenses decreased from $2.4 million to $124,000.
Hegseth has denied accusations that the organization mismanaged its finances and had repeated incidents of drunkenness and sexual misconduct. in an op-ed wall street journal “We have hundreds of employees and thousands of volunteers, but based on anonymous accusations from a few disgruntled employees, legacy media is making it sound like we’re running a college bro Yes. This is untrue.
Charges against Liberty Vets
Before joining America’s Concerned Veterans, Hegseth led Veterans for Freedom (VFF) from 2007 to 2010, during which time he also faced accusations of financial mismanagement.
In 2008, the organization raised $8.7 million but spent $9.1 million. It received a $20,000 loan to “provide additional liquidity to the organization,” documents show.
new yorker report Donors feared their funds were being wasted and arranged for VFF to merge with another organization, Military Families United, which took over much of its management.
By 2010, VFF’s revenue dropped to $268,000, and by 2011, the organization’s revenue was $22,000. The following year, Hegseth joined Concerned Veterans of America.
Margaret Hoover, host of PBS’s “Fire Line” and former adviser to Vets for Freedom, said in a statement interview CNN called Hegseth’s management of the organization “terrible.” Hoover expressed doubts about his ability to manage the massive Department of Defense, which at the time had a staff of fewer than 10 people and a budget of less than $10 million.
“Based on what I saw over those years, I don’t know how he was going to run an organization with an $857 billion budget and 3 million people,” she said.
