Hegseth legal advisor sets record straight on Pentagon role after House questioning

Timothy Parlatore, a prominent defense lawyer who has advised President Donald Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth, clarified misinformation Thursday that was brought up in a hearing with Hegseth the day before.

Colorado Democratic Rep. Jason Crow questioned Hegseth on Parlatore's role at the Pentagon, his status as an advisor to the secretary, whether he had the necessary clearance to sit in on certain meetings and whether he was an operative of foreign governments.

Parlatore accused Crow of purposely distorting his career in the military, where he currently serves as a Commander in the Navy Reserve, and his staff of failing to prepare him with accurate information.

"Every question you asked yesterday had a publicly verifiable answer, and you chose not to verify any of them," Parlatore wrote in a letter shared on X. "You asked them because you wanted to create a misleading impression on camera and you calculated that the hearing format would prevent a complete response. This letter corrects that calculation."

Parlatore denied working for foreign governments, highlighting that he would have to be registered with the Foreign Agent Registration Act if he acted as an agent for a foreign government and that he would not be found on such a register. 

The advisor noted that Crow's questioning came from a misunderstanding of his role and commission, stating that he was not a political appointee as Crow attempted to frame him as but is a Commander in the Navy Reserve and serves as a "special advisor" to Hegseth, not a "senior advisor." 

Crow also claimed in the hearing that Instagram footage proved Parlatore traveled with the secretary and asked whether the Navy Reservist keeps a desk at the Pentagon. Hegseth dodged the question.

Parlatore straightforwardly clarified that he has only accompanied Hegseth on two day trips, one to Quantico in Virginia, and the other to Annapolis, Maryland, and that he does not maintain a desk at the Pentagon. 

The advisor also clarified that he does hold a security clearance as a commander in the Navy because it is required of every commissioned officer, and he currently holds a Top Secret clearance given his rank.

"This was publicly reported and could have been discovered by your staff with minimal effort," he insisted. "I was vetted by the Navy before my commission and again for the upgrade - two background investigations, which is more than most people who walk into the Pentagon on their first day can say."

Parlatore additionally blasted Crow for citing media reports with anonymous sources as evidence of tension within the Trump administration and denied having a strained relationship with the president.

Crow has not commented on Parlatore's letter.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.