Hegseth signed NDA, received six-figure severance payment after leaving veterans' group, sources say [View all]

Source: CBS News

Updated on: December 4, 2024 / 9:20 PM EST


Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's embattled pick for secretary of defense, received a six-figure severance payment and signed a non-disclosure agreement when he exited the organization Concerned Veterans of America. The payment came amid allegations of financial mismanagement, repeated incidents of intoxication and sexual impropriety, as well as dissension among its leaders over Hegseth's foreign policy views.

The Army veteran turned Fox News host signed a non-disclosure agreement when he stepped down as CEO in January 2016, two sources associated with Concerned Veterans of America told CBS News, with one source saying the agreement included a financial payout. The CVA sources spoke to CBS News under conditions of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss legally-binding contracts, while also fearing professional reprisal.

Public tax filings reviewed by CBS News confirm that Hegseth was paid more than $172,000 between October 2016 and September 2017 – well after Hegseth's formal departure from his role as CEO of Concerned Veterans of America in January 2016.

Hegseth remained listed on tax filings as a former CEO working 50 hours a week between 2016 and 2017. An archived 2016 biography on Hegseth's website described him as a Fox News contributor and host, and did not list an ongoing role with Concerned Veterans for America. In a statement to the Military Times at the time of his departure, Hegseth said he was leaving his role in the organization to focus on releasing a book and other advocacy work, while CVA said it wished him well "in all future endeavors."

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pete-hegseth-signed-nda-received-six-figure-payment-after-leaving-concerned-veterans-for-america/