Hegseth Is Pressed to Clarify Lawyer’s Role in Promotion Decisions
Representative Jason Crow asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to explain statements about his special adviser’s influence following a New York Times repor
nytimes.com/…/13/us/hegseth-jason-crow-military-p…
By Greg Jaffe
Reporting from Washington
Aug. 13, 2026, 6:01 a.m. ET
Representative Jason Crow, Democrat of Colorado, pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a letter released on Thursday to clarify his earlier statements about whether his personal lawyer influenced key military promotions.
During a hearing in April, Mr. Crow asked whether Timothy Parlatore, a lawyer who has represented Mr. Hegseth and President Trump, was working on behalf of senior military officers being considered for promotions by Mr. Hegseth.
Mr. Hegseth said that Mr. Parlatore, who is also his “special adviser” at the Pentagon and a Navy reservist, had no role in choosing senior military leaders.
“He doesn’t represent anyone,” Mr. Hegseth …More