Republican Senator Says Pete Hegseth Should ‘Absolutely Not’ Release Accuser From Non-Disclosure Agreement
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) argued Pete Hegseth should “absolutely not” release his 2017 sexual assault accuser from her non-disclosure agreement on Wednesday, despite complaining about Hegseth’s accusers refusing to appear on cable news.
Reacting on CNN to the sexual assault and workplace alcohol accusations against President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, Scott protested, “This is a great nominee and I’m disgusted that these anonymous sources say these things without willing to go on, go on your show or some show, and you know, have you ask them all the questions.”
“The woman who accuses Pete of raping her in 2017,” replied CNN host Jake Tapper. “Pete Hegseth paid her money and she signed a non-disclosure agreement, so she can’t come on my show to talk about it. Do you think Pete should release her from the NDA so that I can ask her the questions that you want me to?”
“Absolutely not,” declared Scott. “We know how many people sign non-disclosures just to eliminate something, not that they ever did anything wrong, and he was never, you know, never charged with anything.”
Tapper shot back, “Do you want me to ask her questions, or do you not want me to ask her questions? I’m confused.”
After Scott said, “I’m not going to suggest that somebody change a contract that they signed, but this is Trump’s nominee, he won,” Tapper replied, “I hear you, but you just– you started this interview in saying you don’t like all these anonymous accusations and I should be able to interview these people. I’m saying, okay, shouldn’t Pete Hegseth release this woman from her non-disclosure agreement so that I can do what you suggested at the top of the interview?”
“Absolutely not. I mean, so many of these things are done for a variety of reasons,” insisted Scott.
Tapper questioned, “Well, how am I supposed to interview her and have her not be anonymous anymore if he won’t release her from the non-disclosure agreement?”
Scott then dodged the question and attempted to change the topic, responding, “There was an investigation, he wasn’t charged, so he’s got– I mean, why don’t people respect these people that defend our freedom? I’m proud of my father. He fought in the Second World War, he did all the combat jobs, he put his life on the line. Pete put his life on the line! Respect him.”
“Well, I respect veterans and soldiers all the time, but that’s not really the point,” Tapper concluded.
Watch above via CNN.
