Crow Demands Hegseth Address Corruption at the Pentagon

August 13, 2026 Press Release AURORA — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, is demanding that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth address possible corruption and conflicts of interest at the Pentagon stemming from his special adviser Tim Parlatore. During an April 29th hearing before the House Armed Services Committee , Hegseth denied that Parlatore had any influence over the promotion of senior officers in the Secretary’s office—a concern given that Parlatore, in addition to his government work, maintains a private legal practice and continues to represent private clients. Under questioning from Crow, Hegseth denied Parlatore’s involvement in senior military promotions, including representing individuals under consideration for promotion. New reporting contradicts Hegseth's testimony before Congress. According to The New York Times , Admiral Daryl Caudle hired Parlatore to resolve an investigation by the DoD Office of the Inspector General to clear the way for his promotion to Chief Naval Officer (CNO). Parlatore, who had also been tapped by Secretary Hegseth to serve as a special adviser, had previously recommended the Admiral to lead the Navy. According to the Times ’ report, when Hegseth was presented with a list of potential CNOs that did not include Caudle, he directed his staff to speak with Parlatore about the matter. In his letter to Hegseth, Crow demands that Hegseth clarify his testimony before the Committee and remedy inconsistencies as they relate to Parlatore’s conflicts of interest. Crow also reminds Hegseth of his obligations to preserve all documents, communications, and electronically stored information relevant to the issue. “Pete Hegseth is not fit to lead. He has politicized our military, corrupted the highest office at the Pentagon, and now seems to have misled the public and Congress,” said Congressman Crow. “Our military leaders make decisions of life and death nearly every day, and the American people must see that those leaders are chosen with integrity, merit, and their safety top of mind. Undermining this process puts our national security at risk. Hegseth must set the record straight before the American people.” Part of the exchange from the April hearing can be read below and viewed in full here . CROW: …Does he [Parlatore] represent any senior officers who are currently under consideration for promotion by you or your office? HEGSETH: The only person that makes determinations about senior officers is me. CROW: Answer the question. Does he represent senior officers who are under consideration for promotion by you? [Crosstalk] HEGSETH: No, I'm the one that makes decisions about choosing… CROW: Does he represent them, Mr. Secretary? HEGSETH: …and finding senior officers. CROW: Does he represent them? HEGSETH: He doesn’t represent anyone. He's a legal adviser and always has been. A PDF of the letter can be found here , with full text appearing below: Secretary Hegseth, I write regarding serious concerns that recent reporting by The New York Times calls into question the veracity of testimony you provided before the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) earlier this year with respect to the influence of your special adviser, Timothy Parlatore, on the promotions of senior officials in the United States military. On April 29, 2026, you appeared before HASC to provide testimony on the Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2027 budget request. During that hearing, I asked you about potential ethical and organizational conflicts of interest regarding Mr. Parlatore, who currently serves in your office as a special adviser. While serving in this position, Mr. Parlatore still maintains a private legal practice. In response to my questions about whether Mr. Parlatore represents any senior officers under consideration for promotion, you denied it on all occasions. According to recent reporting, Mr. Parlatore has played an influential role in advising on senior military promotions and personnel decisions within the Pentagon. If accurate, this arrangement raises significant questions about potential conflicts of interest, adherence to federal ethics standards, and the integrity and impartiality of the military’s promotion system. Further, when questioned before HASC regarding Mr. Parlatore’s possible involvement in senior military promotions, you stated that he played no role in those decisions. The reporting appears to contradict your statements before HASC, raising serious concerns about the credibility and accuracy of your testimony. According to the article, Mr. Parlatore played a significant role in the process leading to Admiral Daryl Caudle’s selection as the Navy’s 34th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). However, while serving in your office, Mr. Parlatore represented Admiral Caudle in a matter pertaining to an ongoing Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigation, clearing the way for his nomination. Meanwhile, Mr. Parlatore was apparently actively involved in discussions surrounding Admiral Caudle’s promotion. According to the public reporting, Mr. Parlatore spoke to you about selecting Admiral Caudle as the next CNO, and you directed your staff to consult with Mr. Parlatore about Admiral Caudle’s position within the military. It appears that Mr. Parlatore’s involvement extended well beyond that of a special adviser and into matters traditionally reserved for Department leadership and established military personnel processes. These serious allegations raise questions regarding the scope of Mr. Parlatore’s authority and the role he plays in recommending or influencing promotions of senior military officers. These allegations also raise concerns that appropriate ethics safeguards and personnel procedures are not being followed and that your testimony before HASC may not have been complete or accurate. Given these concerns, I request that you provide a written response no later than September 10, 2026, clarifying your testimony and remedying any inconsistencies. I would also remind you of your legal obligation to preserve all documents, communications, and electronically stored information that may be relevant to these issues. As Secretary of Defense, you are obligated to ensure compliance with all applicable federal records preservation requirements. The Federal Records Act requires the Department of Defense to create and preserve records documenting official government business, including communications, directives, deliberations, and decision-making related to the Department's operations.These obligations extend to records regardless of format, including emails, text messages, encrypted messaging applications, and other electronic communications. I look forward to your timely response and expect it to provide the transparency and accountability that these matters demand. ### Issues : Fighting Corruption National Security