Trump says Hegseth's support is 'strong and deep' despite confirmation hurdles



President-elect Donald Trump said support for Pete Hegseth, his nominee to head the Department of Defense, remains "strong and deep" despite numerous reports suggesting otherwise.

Since Hegseth was first nominated for the post in November, various allegations ranging from alcohol abuse to sexual misconduct have plagued his confirmation bid. Hegseth and several of his colleagues have publicly denied these allegations.

'Pete Hegseth is doing very well,' Trump said in a Truth Social post on Friday. 'His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe.'

One of the most notable roadblocks for Hegseth has come from Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa. Sources close to the Senate told Blaze News that Ernst has lobbied against Hegseth's nomination, although she has publicly denied these reports. Other outlets have reported that Hegseth's support within the Senate GOP conference more broadly has wavered.

Despite this, Trump has maintained his wholehearted endorsement of Hegseth and reaffirmed that his support in the Senate remains "strong and deep."

"Pete Hegseth is doing very well," Trump said in a Truth Social post on Friday. "His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe."

"He was a great student - Princeton/Harvard educated - with a Military state of mind," Trump continued. "He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of [Defense], one who leads with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!"

While there seems to be a pressure campaign to have Hegseth step aside, both Trump and the nominee have maintained that he will go through with the confirmation process.

As of this writing, two of Trump's nominees have withdrawn from their respective bids.

Trump initially tapped Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida in November to serve as attorney general in the upcoming administration, although he later withdrew just two weeks later, as he felt that he had become a political distraction for the transition team. Trump later nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the role.

Trump also recruited Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration on Sunday. Chronister withdrew his bid just a few days later on Tuesday, after becoming the subject of criticism over his past progressive policies and COVID policing.

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Former Equinox employee fired after showing up late 47 times during 10-month stint awarded $11.25 million in racial discrimination case



A woman allegedly fired for showing up late 47 times during her brief 10-month stint managing personal trainers at an Upper East Side gym in New York is poised to become a multimillionaire.

Robynn Europe, a black 39-year-old, was awarded $10 million in punitive damages and $1.25 million for alleged distress by a New York City jury comprising five women and three men in a racial discrimination case against Equinox, reported the New York Times.

The former Oberlin College art student worked for Equinox from 2018 until 2019. Initially hired as a fitness manager, she was quickly promoted to personal training manager.

Ten months into her tenure at the club, Equinox canned the manager, citing her consistent tardiness.

Court documents indicate that the company maintains a policy on attendance and punctuality, outlined in the Equinox employee handbook Europe read upon first being hired.

The policy stated, "Routinely reporting to work late and failing to work your scheduled hours are violations of Equinox policy that can result in termination."

In one instance, on April 15, 2019, Europe received a disciplinary "Record of Discussion" after she had allegedly turned up late to work nine times over the previous 15 days. This workplace citation included a cautionary note underscoring that "the potential consequences for continued unsatisfactory performance issues included termination."

Europe did not deny that she flouted the company's policy on tardiness. Instead, she claimed her routine contravention of company policy was ultimately used as a pretext to fire her. She was convinced — or at the very least convinced the jury — that her September 2019 termination was motivated instead by racism and other forms of prejudice.

She filed a lawsuit against Equinox and three Equinox employees in 2022, claiming that she was subjected to employment discrimination on the basis of her sex, race, and disability. The lawsuit further suggested that Equinox failed to investigate Europe's complaints of racially and sexually inappropriate behavior, electing instead to use her unrepentant tardiness as a way to oust her.

Equinox counterclaimed that Europe had not shown circumstances giving rise to an inference of discrimination or that the non-discriminatory reason for canning her was pretextual. The company further stressed that it does not "tolerate discrimination in any form."

Following the jury's decision to award Europe well over $11 million in a timely fashion, Equinox filed a motion asking the court to reconsider the case, reported the Times.

Lawyers for the company stressed that the jurors, "guided by sympathy and emotion," had "erroneously" bought into Europe's victim narrative.

Susan Crumiller, Europe's lawyer, said in a statement, "The jury sent a loud message to Equinox that there are serious consequences for corporations that permit racist and sexist behavior in the workplace. ... Let this be a warning to all businesses in New York that if you try to brush harassment and discrimination under the rug, you will not get away with it."

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Ex-high school coach investigated over disturbing nude ‘fat tests’ to examine male students bodies; coach would ‘pinch and explore the skin near their scrotum, their groin, and their buttocks’: Report



A former Rhode Island high school basketball coach is being accused of telling students to strip naked for what he said were body "fat tests."

The coach, who resigned from his position at the school in June, has denied any wrongdoing.

What are the details?

A report in The Boston Globe alleged that the Rhode Island attorney general's office is investigating former basketball coach Aaron Thomas, 54, in connection with allegations that he told male student athletes to strip naked so he could perform "fat tests."

Thomas, a former teacher and coach at North Kingstown High School since the '90s, resigned in June after players went public with their allegations.

John MacDonald, an attorney for Thomas, said that Thomas conducted the tests — which he said were done with parental consent — using skin fold calipers. Thomas himself claimed these tests were "designed to help athletes to reach their full potential." MacDonald also insisted that Thomas has amassed hundreds of signed consent forms over the years to corroborate his claim.

The Boston Globe, however, reviewed the forms and reported that nudity is mentioned nowhere on the form.

MacDonald responded by telling the outlet that Thomas found it easier to test players while they were in the buff.

"The testing started on the upper body with the shirt off and go lower with underwear on or off," MacDonald insisted. "It was simply quicker to do with underwear not in the way. In any given day he's testing three or four students."

Former student athletes, however, painted a much more nefarious picture, and said that Thomas would take them to a small janitor's closet or AV room attached to his office for examination. At that point, Thomas reportedly used the calipers to "pinch and explore the skin near their scrotum, their groin, and their buttocks."

"Some said he would also ask them to do stretches or 'duck walks' while naked," the outlet added. "One alleged that Thomas did a 'hernia check.'"

The Globe reported that allegations began to swirl as early as 2018, and administrators acknowledged the concerns by reportedly telling Thomas that he would only be able to conduct the "fat tests" in a locker room with at least two other adults present.

After his resignation, Thomas took a job at a private middle school in South Kingstown.

He was fired earlier this month after the allegations became public.

No criminal charges have been filed at the time of this report.

What else is there to know?

North Kingstown Schools superintendent Phil Augur addressed the tests during a Tuesday night school committee meeting and said, "I acted appropriately."

Augur said that he was first informed about the body fat tests in 2018, and once more in 2021.

"In the case in 2018," Augur said according to the outlet, "the former student said he was not naked at the time, but felt the tests were unusual."

In early 2021, however, another student said that he was naked and that Thomas had touched him inappropriately.

Officials immediately contacted police and suspended Thomas in February upon a full investigation into the teen's allegations. That same month, the school board unanimously voted to terminate Thomas, but he resigned in June before he could be fired.

"In both of these instances, I recognized the seriousness of the matter, and I acted appropriately and immediately in the best interest of students, past and present, with the information I had at the time," Augur insisted.

Augur's remarks were met with jeering and cries of "Liar!" from the crowd, the Globe reported.