President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, defended his support for service members accused and convicted of war crimes on Tuesday. Hegseth emphasized that there was 'prosecutorial misconduct' in their cases and expressed pride in ensuring they were looked after.
During questioning from Sen. Jack Reed, Hegseth clarified that he was not advocating for disregarding the laws of war, the Geneva Conventions, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice. He highlighted the challenges faced by service members due to restrictive rules of engagement on the battlefield, which he believed hindered the defeat of enemies.
