GOP Congressman Postpones Campaign Fundraiser With Pete Hegseth | EUROtoday

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was slated to be a particular visitor at a marketing campaign fundraiser for Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) later this month, however the occasion has been postponed.

Nunn introduced Hegseth’s participation on Tuesday, simply three days after the U.S. launched an open-ended struggle on Iran that had already claimed the lives of six Americans, together with Sgt. Declan Coady, a 20-year-old from Iowa, plus three others who, like Coady, had been assigned to a base in Des Moines.

“This Saturday, I will attend the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base to honor the brave Americans who were killed in action and stand with their families during this solemn moment,” Nunn mentioned in a press release Thursday afternoon.

He mentioned the fundraiser, billed as “Operation TOP NUNN,” has been postpone. “We will have more to share about the event soon, and all ticket holders will be notified of the new date,” Nunn mentioned.

Nunn, a former Air Force officer, touted Hegseth as his “wingman” for the “Top Gun”-themed occasion at an airport in Ankeny, Iowa. It was billed as a “salute to the troops,” however proceeds from tickets would go straight to Nunn’s marketing campaign.

The army restricts service members and civilian personnel from taking part in political actions. A spokesperson for the Pentagon didn’t reply to requests for remark.

Several Democrats in Congress mentioned they thought it was inappropriate for Hegseth to hitch the fundraiser.

“I would have a lot of qualms about it,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) advised HuffPost. “I think the appearance is just terrible.”

“I hope that he will have developed a plan for what’s next and how we’re going to end this war in Iran before he goes to a fundraiser,” Sen. Tammy Duckworth (Ill.) mentioned.

On social media, House Democratic chief Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) requested“Why is the least qualified Secretary of Defense in American history holding a campaign event with a do-nothing Republican in the middle of a war he started?”

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) mentioned it’s potential for the secretary of protection to take part in a political occasion as long as some guidelines are adopted.

“He can’t do it in a secretary-of-defense capacity. I’ve seen other secretaries do fundraisers,” Bacon advised HuffPost. “There’s a lot of rules behind it, so I presume that the Pentagon will have their lawyers to make sure they got this right.”

Other Republicans, although, didn’t give it a second thought.

“It doesn’t bother me at all,” Sen. Joni Ernst (Iowa) advised HuffPost.

“Oh, thanks for telling me that!” added Sen. Roger Wicker (Miss.), who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee.