Hegseth considering Pentagon chief spokesperson to replace Army secretary
Parnell, a decorated Afghanistan veteran, could face a difficult Senate confirmation over past abuse allegations and his partisan profile, officials said.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering senior adviser Sean Parnell for Army Secretary, with a Pentagon spokesperson confirming Parnell is on Hegseth's short list to succeed Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.
- Pressure to fill the Army Secretary position intensified after Hegseth fired Gen. Randy George in April, leaving the service without a chief of staff. The New York Times reported Army leadership has been "gutted" under his tenure.
- Parnell, a decorated Afghanistan War veteran, earned two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. He ran for Congress twice and mounted a Senate campaign in Pennsylvania before withdrawing in November 2021.
- His candidacy faces scrutiny due to abuse allegations from estranged wife Laurie Snell. A judge found the allegations credible during a 2021 custody battle, though Parnell denies them, stating, "I never raised a hand in anger."
- A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed Parnell remains on Hegseth's short list despite his troubled history. Supporters within the administration defend his record, arguing he has worked to enable cultural change and accountability within the Pentagon.
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Hegseth favors Sean Parnell to be Army secretary
This article is made possible through Spotlight PA’s partnership with NOTUS, a nonpartisan news organization that covers government and politics with the fresh eyes of early career journalists and the expertise of veteran reporters. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth favors Sean Parnell to become the next Army secretary, according to two former Pentagon officials, but the Pentagon spokesperson would probably face a tough path to Senate confirmation.…
Hegseth Wants Pentagon Spox As New Army Secretary
NOTUS reports: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth favors Sean Parnell to become the next Army secretary, according to two former Pentagon officials, but the Pentagon spokesperson would probably face a tough path to Senate confirmation. Hegseth is considering Parnell to succeed Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who is reportedly weighing a departure from the Pentagon in the coming weeks. Parnell is a decorated Afghanistan veteran, former congressional can…
Hegseth Is Weighing a Controversial Pentagon Spokesperson for the Army’s Top Job
Sean Parnell has served as the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson for most of President Donald Trump’s second term and is a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth favors Sean Parnell to become the next Army secretary, according to two former Pentagon officials, but the Pentagon spokesperson would probably face a tough path to Senate confirmation.Hegseth is considering Parnell to su…
Trump admin aide haunted by abuse allegations mulled for new Army chief
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under pressure to nominate a new Army Secretary in the midst of a war with Iran, and he's reportedly considering his own Pentagon press secretary — a man who once dropped a Senate bid over accusations he choked his wife and abused their children.According to The Hill, Sean Parnell could be tabbed for the high-pressure job. Parnell, also a senior adviser to Hegseth, "has privately expressed his interest in the ro…
Parnell, who has solid backing within the Trump administration, is a former bronze-star decorated combatant and a Purple Heart
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