Letters from Congressman Jim Banks (Navy Veteran) and Senator Tom Cotton (Army veteran) to West Point’s Superintendent:
LTG Steven W. Gilland
Superintendent
United States Military Academy
West Point, NY 10996
Dear General Gilland,
I write regarding the recent, apparent attempt by the U.S. Military Academy Office of Public Affairs (OPA) to interfere in the nomination of the next Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.
As you know, ProPublica reporter Jesse Eisinger had been preparing to publish a story falsely claiming that nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, was lying when he said that he was admitted into West Point but decided not to attend.
To preempt the publication of a blatantly false story, Hegseth published his West Point acceptance letter, proving the veracity of his claim and leading ProPublica to kill the story.
Eisinger defended his reporting, claiming that West Point OPA told him “twice on the record” that Hegseth had not even applied to West Point.
It is outrageous that West Point officials would so grossly interfere in a political process and make false claims regarding a presidential nominee.
It is also deeply unwise, given that Hegseth will soon have oversight over West Point.
Even in the unlikely scenario of OPA mistakenly making false claims not once but twice, it is an unforgivable act of incompetence that OPA did not make absolutely sure their information was accurate before sharing it with a reporter.
I urge you to immediately provide to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees all communication and documentation regarding how West Point OPA falsely accused Hegseth of lying about his application.
I further call upon you to investigate the bureaucrat at West Point OPA who made these false allegations, to remove them from their post, and to consider for removal from Academy employment all individuals who wish to politicize their institution rather than support the education and readiness of the next generation of Army leaders.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Jim Banks
Member of Congress
Cotton to West Point: Find Source of Trump Nominee Smears
Washington, D.C., Dec 11, 2024 — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to U.S. Military Academy Superintendent Lieutenant General Steven Gilland urging a prompt investigation into the false information fed to a left-wing media outlet by a U.S. Military Academy official.
In part, Senator Cotton wrote:
“This statement is incorrect; not only did Mr. Hegseth apply, but he was also accepted to the West Point Class of 2003. Worse, the statement may violate Mr. Hegseth’s rights under the Privacy Act of 1974 by revealing protected personal information. If true, it also demonstrates egregiously bad judgment to share such information about the nominee to be Secretary of Defense with a known liberal outlet like ProPublica.”
Full text of the letter may be found here and below.
December 11, 2024
Lieutenant General Steven W. Gilland, USA
Superintendent, United States Military Academy
606 Thayer Rd.
West Point, NY 10996
Dear Lieutenant General Gilland,
I’m concerned about reports that a U.S. Military Academy official has provided false information to a left-wing reporter writing a derogatory hit piece about Pete Hegseth, the nominee for Secretary of Defense.
I understand that a civilian public-affairs officer, Theresa Brinkerhoff, informed a reporter that Mr. Hegseth didn’t apply to West Point, as he has said publicly in the past.
This statement is incorrect; not only did Mr. Hegseth apply, but he was also accepted to the West Point Class of 2003.
Worse, the statement may violate Mr. Hegseth’s rights under the Privacy Act of 1974 by revealing protected personal information.
If true, it also demonstrates egregiously bad judgment to share such information about the nominee to be Secretary of Defense with a known liberal outlet like ProPublica.
Could you please promptly look into this matter? Perhaps there’s an honest mistake here, though I can’t imagine what it might be.
But I also can’t imagine this action was authorized or known to the West Point leadership.
Sincerely,
Tom Cotton
United States Senator
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