Exclusive | Hegseth left veterans group post voluntarily, wasn’t ousted over drinking, misconduct: Trustee letter

A trustee confirmed eight years ago that Pete Hegseth “voluntarily resigned” as president of a veterans advocacy group, according to a copy of a letter exclusively obtained by The Post, denying swirling allegations that the defense secretary-designee was forced out due to alcohol abuse, sexual impropriety and financial mismanagement.

Concerned Veterans for America trustee Randy Lair wrote in a Jan. 16, 2016, missive that “it was important to set the record straight given what appears to be a very personal attack against Pete and his military service.”

“The truth is Pete resigned his position as CEO of Concerned Veterans for America as a result of a difference of opinion as to the future of the organization and so that he could focus on other endeavors, including his relationship with Fox News,” Lair said.

“Pete was not terminated by the organization and, in fact, we at CVA worked with him through this difficult decision and mutually agreed the end of 2015 was the best timing for both parties,” he added.

The CVA letter was meant to address an “unsolicited email” that had been forwarded to Fox News that included “a very personal attack against Pete and his military service.”

It also appears to directly contradict a whistleblower report and other allegations from Hegseth’s tenure at CVA published Sunday by the New Yorker, in which ex-employees alleged the former vets group president had abused funds and been “totally sloshed” at several of the organization’s events.

Anonymous former colleagues, who have since been contradicted by an ex-senior adviser who spoke on the record with The Post, also claimed that President-elect Donald Trump’s Pentagon pick once even took co-workers out for a night at a strip joint in Louisiana in November 2014 — and tried to dance on stage himself.