Trump's Kennedy, Hegseth nominations retraumatize sexual assault survivors like me | Opinion

Show Caption

President-elect Donald Trump, no stranger to sexual misconduct allegations himself, blithely nominated three men to fill powerful positions in his Cabinet who have been accused of sexual assault.

One of them, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his nomination to serve as attorney general last week. But the other two − Pete Hegseth, nominated as secretary of Defense, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated as secretary of Health and Human Services − are still under consideration to lead large and powerful federal agencies.

Nothing triggers me more than America's largely ignored biases toward survivors of sexual assault. These nominations retraumatize us by reinforcing harmful societal norms that dismiss accountability for sexual violence.

Gaetz was the subject of multiple investigations alleging sexual misconduct, with some claims even involving minors. Trump nominated Gaetz anyway, and the Republican-controlled House refused to release the results of its investigation into Gaetz's actions.

Gaetz withdrew after Senate Republicans made it clear they would call his accusers as witnesses during his Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing and the nominee was told he didn't have the votes to win the appointment.

Survivors of sexual violence feel betrayed

For sexual violence survivors, seeing individuals like Hegseth, Kennedy and Gaetz considered for positions of power evokes feelings of betrayal, helplessness and fear.

Reporting sexual misconduct already feels futile. What message do these nominations send to federal employees about their workplace environment? What voices and experiences are valued by government leaders?

I fear our trauma is now secondary to political opportunism.

Opinion: I served in Iraq. Trump's Defense nominee Hegseth is wrong about women in combat.

Public supported Bill Clinton despite misconduct

In the 1990s, President Bill Clinton remained popular with the public despite lying under oath about having sex with a White House intern, despite settling a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by another woman and despite being accused of rape by yet another woman. Even after he was impeached by the House and acquitted in the Senate, his approval rating increased.

Was that a sign of the times to come?

Opinion: Trevor Bauer accuser may have been a fraud. But most reports of sexual violence are real.

Trump won the popular vote last month despite a jury finding him liable last year for sexual abusing an advice columnist.

And despite the allegations against the current nominees, voter outrage has been mostly muted. Why? Voters prioritize economic and cultural issues over character and integrity.

Yet, it's important to address the allegations against Hegseth and Kennedy to protect the integrity of the government and to ensure that survivors feel supported.

Sexual violence survivors deserve more than silence and dismissal − they deserve leadership that acknowledges their experiences and prioritizes their well-being.

Survivors' dignity and justice must not be ignored for the sake of political expediency.

Marla Bautista is a military fellow columnist at Paste BN Opinion.