On Thursday, Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, spoke at a press conference with Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, giving the latest details on operation, Epic Fury. Near the beginning of Hegseth’s portion, he told of an experience in Church the previous week where the sermon focused on the Pharisees in the Bible who tried to find fault with Jesus, particularly in the incident when they questioned Jesus’s actions in healing and performing miracles on the Sabbath. He equated the Pharisees to those in the media who neglect to report the successes in the current war with Iran. In fact, as Hegseth stated, at times it feels as if those individuals or organizations seem to be rooting for a failure by the administration, as if their hatred for the current President is greater than their love for America. All paraphrasing, but if you get a chance watch the video of the press conference. I had it on, was doing things around the house and when I head the Secretary of War start telling the story from the New Testament, I could see what he saw. He described the Pharisees as “self-appointed elites” with ‘hardened hearts” who witnessed miracles but only sought to criticize, seeing the similarity between them and the “Trump hating press.” This recount in the New Testament is depicted in three books, Mark, 3, Luke 6 and Matthew 12.
From there, the Secretary went on to give the latest details, telling the press, but it seemed as if he too was talking directly to the Iranian officials currently in charge, after each detail, he would almost say to the Iranian officials, “Choose Wisely.” It was almost like a parent lecturing to their teenager, explaining the responsibilities in driving a car, stay within the speed limit, don’t get behind the wheel if you have been drinking, yada, yada, yada…Choose Wisely.”
As I went through the rest of my day, I thought of the press conference. Pete Hegseth was tough to get confirmed for that position. After the the President named his as his choice for the position, stories from Pete’s past started to come out, two previous failed marriages, sexual misconduct allegations, reported accounts of too much drinking and then, the most damaging, in my mind, an email leaked that his mother had sent to him that expressed her concern for his treatment of women and how he was conducting his life. In the days that followed, his mother went on the morning shows to tell that she had sent a follow up email to her son, that had NOT been released as well, apologizing for what she had said, her letter expressed a mother seeing her son make some “Unwise Choices” and hoping for him to get his life on track, as she knew the potential for her son who had graduated from Princeton and went on to military service.
Some of Pete Heseth’s books and a photo of his family.
Eventually, Pete did make sweeping changes in his life. No matter what the reason, and only he and God know, he did make a turnaround. He got married for the third time, is now the father of seven children between he and his wife’s previous marriages and he refers to all of the children as his, making the comment at one time, “there are no halves or step children in my life, I am a father to them all.” Pete went on the write several books on topics from traditional and classical education that teach American values, to the DEI problem holding our United States military hostage from being the lean mean fighting machine it should and could be. One of the weekend anchor spots opened up on Fox & Friends in 2017 and Pete commuted from Tennessee where he had moved his family. He held that spot from 2017-2024 when he was nominated for the cabinet position. At the age of forty-five, Secretary Hegseth is the twenty-ninth person in history to hold this position. He has increased morale in the armed forces with enlistment going up in all division this calendar year. He has eliminated DEI, saying that merit will decide advancement. He and his department have seen success already in his first year, with the Madero mission in Venezuela, the rescue of two downed pilots in Iran and what is looking like another victory in Operation Epic Fury…
Eric Swalwell made a name for himself as a young congressman from the state of California during the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. The congressman was elected to represent his state in 2012. Prior to that, he held roles as a deputy district attorney and as a city councilman. Representative Swalwell was very aggressive in questioning Kavanaugh stating in the proceedings he said, “ that for one person to be so ‘unlucky’ to face multiple accusations, was quite interesting.”
Early this year, Congressman Swalwell threw his hat into the Governor’s race of California. Last week, allegations stared to become public of sexual misconduct. Alleged victims started coming forward and one woman did an interview, stating that she suspected that Swalwell had possibly slipped something into her drink. Other women made claims that they had had professional relationships with him that turned strange with him sending offensive texts and photos to them. The woman who did the interview corroborated dates that she claims that the alleged attack happened with a campaign event on Swalwell’s public agenda. She has dates in her calendar from medical and therapy appointments that coincide with her story.
When fellow party members and his close friend were questioned about Swalwell’s behavior, they claim that he was known to be “flirty” but they never knew about THIS side of him. One of them is Arizona Representative, Ruben Gallego, who has been described as his “best friend in the whole world,” The two have travelled together and Gallego headed up Swalwell’s Governor’s campaign. The two travelled together to Puerto Rico for Gallego’s wedding in 2021 and it is reported that the two used campaign funds for luxury resort expenses during this trip.
The public became aware of Eric Swalwell’s ability to make poor choices, when it was made known during the Kavanaugh hearings that he had carried on a relationship with a Chinese spy, Christine Fang, also know as “Fang Fang.” Apparently, his disrespect for women was known on Capitol Hill. Senior members of the party were aware of his poor choices and bad behavior. He was useful to them as a “bull dog” going after Kavanaugh and then President Trump.
Over the weekend, when this news and allegations were made public, he suspended his campaign for California Governor and he resigned from his seat in Congress. Eric Swalwell has been married twice and he has three children. Swalwell has consistently maintained his innocence regarding these acts while admitting to personal failures. (Which is it?). At the age of forty-five, his future doesn’t look bright. If these allegations are true and a jury finds him guilty, Eric Swalwell could be facing prison time and possible lawsuits.
It’s sad for the women who have come forward. One claimed that she feared for her life because of his power as a U.S. Congressman. If what these women are saying is true, the emotional trauma they experienced can and could affect their lives for years to come. Eric’s wife and three children are also victims. They did not deserve to be in this role. Eric Swalwell too is, in some ways, to be pitied for being allowed to get by with this behavior. Those who knew of this behavior, “friend” and co-workers, did him no favors by letting him get by and saying nothing.
Two men, Pete Hegseth and Eric Swalwell, who both work/worked in Washington DC, the same age, both with some scandal in their lives, due to their choices. Pete Hegseth’s could have been a wake-up call to turn his life around. He was fortunate to have family who called out his bad behavior. Telling people the truth is not easy. It can help or it can make the problem worse if the person who needs the help doesn’t see it that way. Being honest can ruin relationships or it can save lives. We have all most likely seen both scenarios.
We are all “a work in progress,” we all make bad choices at times. Recently, I heard of a nineteen year old who was killed driving drunk. They had three other passengers in the car, who all survived. To hear of bad choices that have irrevocable consequences makes us all sad, to think that a bad choice made at age nineteen, ending one’s life, altering others involved in that bad choice made, is just so tragic…
Choose wisely. Assessing and reflecting on one’s life and choices periodically, may be a good thing. Confessing to those who have been hurt and asking for forgiveness from them and God Almighty, can keep a person “in check.” Having close relationships with one’s family and close friends, having the tough conversations with those we love can be exactly what is needed at times. Finding one’s self in Church and reading the word of God are steps in the right direction. Hoping that Eric Swalwell will find his way and face accountability if the allegations are correct. It’s sad to see someone, anyone, loose their way. Seeing someone find their way and move towards goodness and great days is refreshing. It can lead to Great Days for many.
