Navy official placed on leave after vowing to undo Trump’s policies
A senior Navy official, Brandon Newsom, was placed on administrative leave after an undercover video showed him criticizing the Trump administration, expressing intentions to undo Trump-era policies and condemning the Iran war, describing it as “entirely stupid.” The video, posted by conservative investigator James O’Keefe, was filmed during a secret encounter where Newsom made these statements, suggesting he would oppose current policies after Trump leaves office.Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao condemned Newsom’s behaviour as inappropriate and incompatible with department standards, emphasizing the Navy’s serious stance against such conduct. O’Keefe has a history of undercover investigations exposing officials’ inappropriate behavior, leading to suspensions and investigations. Additionally, other figures, including a Secret Service agent related to Vice President Vance, have been placed on leave following revelations from O’Keefe’s hidden camera footage. The investigations have also led to the DOJ examining discrimination allegations and voting law violations.
A senior official with the secretary of the Navy‘s office was placed on administrative leave on Wednesday after he appeared to condemn the Trump administration in an undercover video.
In an announcement posted to X, acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said senior Navy official Brandon Newsom had exhibited behavior “inappropriate and incompatible with the standards expected of Department personnel,” and placed him on leave “immediately.”
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The development comes after conservative media personality James O’Keefe posted a video he said showed Newsom denouncing President Donald Trump as a “narcissist” and promising to “undo whatever’s been done” at the Pentagon after the president leaves office. In the video, Newsom also appeared to condemn the war in Iran, calling it “completely stupid” and saying the conflict has been driven by Trump’s ego.
O’Keefe is an undercover investigator who seeks to capture criminal or inappropriate behavior on hidden cameras during encounters with unsuspecting individuals. O’Keefe published his latest investigation this week, saying he pretended to go on a “gay date” with Newsom, during which he secretly filmed the Navy official making the statements.
Cao, the Navy secretary, reposted O’Keefe’s video of the encounter in his announcement that Newsom was being placed on leave.
“The Department of the Navy takes the conduct shown in this video extremely seriously,” Cao said. “Such statements and apparent intent to leverage a position to undermine the policies and direction set by our elected leaders are inappropriate and incompatible with the standards expected of Department personnel.”
Newsom is one of many figures O’Keefe has sought to expose in undercover videos that have led either to their suspension or triggered a Justice Department investigation into their conduct.
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One of the Secret Service agents in January on Vice President JD Vance‘s security detail was placed on administrative leave after he was captured on video footage and in text messages telling O’Keefe’s media group about sensitive information related to Vance’s security measures and travel plans.
In May, O’Keefe’s group published footage he said showed Washington Nationals director of community relations Sean Hudson discriminating against pitcher Trevor Williams because of his Christian beliefs, leading the DOJ to promise to examine allegations. Earlier that month, the DOJ charged a California woman with violating the law by paying people to register to vote, in response to another investigation published by O’Keefe.
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