Group seeks ethics probe of Pete Hegseth over Zach Nunn fundraiser

A group representing former national security officials has asked the U.S. Office of Special Counsel to investigate whether Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth violated rules limiting federal employees' political activities by speaking at Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn's signature fundraiser.

The Steady State, an organization of more than 430 former national security officials, filed the complaint asking for a probe into whether Hegseth's appearance at Nunn's annual "Top Gun"-themed "Top Nunn: Salute to the Troops" fundraiser during the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines on Aug. 17 violated the Hatch Act.

The complaint, filed Sept. 11, contends Hegseth urged the audience to return Nunn to Congress while invoking his office and its responsibilities at the political event, where tickets ran from $26 to $3,500. Funds went to Team Nunn, a joint fundraising committee that includes Nunn's campaign, his leadership political action committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Nunn, of Ankeny, is seeking a third two-year term representing south-central Iowa's 3rd Congressional District, which encompasses Des Moines, its suburbs and rural south-central Iowa. He faces Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott in the Nov. 3 general election.

From the stage at JR's SouthPork Ranch, Hegseth lobbied for the Trump administration's $1.5 trillion defense funding request as essential to protecting the U.S. and modernizing the nation's military.

Hegseth told the crowd, "what President Trump has promised is a generational investment in our warriors and in our warfighters that is required for the dangerous world we live in today. And that's why the biggest job I have is to ensure that my department is properly funded."

He described Nunn "an ally to call who understands why it's important to fund our military the way we need to fund it, but also do so in a fiscally responsible way." He praised Nunn as "willing to take the tough votes to do the right thing on behalf of our war fighters, which is all you can ask for."

Hegseth disclosed during his remarks "according to the lawyers, I'm only here in a personal capacity today" and later said, "I had to say that for full disclaimer, for the lawyers."

A Pentagon official said in an email Hegseth "was in Iowa attending an event in his personal capacity."

"Department staff are not involved in, nor privy to, the details of events that Secretary Hegseth attends in his personal capacity," the official said. "Therefore, we have no comment."

A spokesperson for Nunn did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Hatch Act bars federal employees, including Cabinet secretaries, from using their official authority or influence to affect the result of an election. A separate provision permits such officials to engage in political activity otherwise barred, provided the event is not funded with money from the U.S. Treasury.

The Washington Post's Dan Lamothe reported Hegseth "used taxpayer-funded military aircraft for the trip." The complaint asks the office to determine whether the Treasury was reimbursed, and if so, by whom and when. The group said it does not assert that reimbursement did not occur. It also asks for the aircraft's full itinerary and what ethics advice preceded the appearance.

The group also noted materials originally advertising the event in March, before it was postponed amid the onset of the Iran war, described Hegseth as a special guest and identified him as "Pete Hegseth," without his official title. He wasn't advertised as a speaker at the rescheduled event in August. It doesn't take issue with the invitations but asks the office to investigate whether Hegseth used the resources of his department in connection to the fundraiser.

The same group filed a complaint concerning Hegseth's May appearance for a Kentucky congressional candidate that the office closed. But it argued his appearance at Nunn's event was different because Hegseth described the Defense Department as "my department" and one speaker referred to him as "Secretary Hegseth."

Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at [email protected]. Follow her on X at @marissajpayne.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Group seeks ethics probe of Pete Hegseth over Zach Nunn fundraiser