Pentagon nominee denies sexual misconduct allegations

The Air Force general nominated to be the nation's number two military officer flatly denied allegations of sexual misconduct Tuesday, and appeared headed for confirmation after answering pointed questions from senators for more than two hours.

With his wife of 32 years sitting behind him and his accuser looking on from a short distance away, Air Force Gen. John Hyten told senators that "all the allegations are completely false." Most of the senators on the Armed Services Committee appeared to support him, including Sen. Martha McSally, R-Az., a former fighter pilot who has publicly described her own sexual assault.

Hyten's forceful denial comes after several months delay in the nomination process as senators held five classified sessions, poured over thousands of pages of the investigation and interviewed Hyten and Army Col. Kathryn Spletstoser, the officer who made the allegations.

Spletstoser says Hyten, who has been nominated to be the next vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, subjected her to a series of unwanted sexual advances in 2017.

"Nothing happened. Ever," Hyten told the committee, adding that the allegations were shown to be false after a "fair and extensive investigation."
Former Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson, who authorized the initial investigation, opened the hearing with an endorsement of Hyten, calling his accuser a "wounded soldier" who might "believe what she is saying is true."
"I was appalled and hurt quite frankly," said Spletstoser, who received a mild head injury while serving in Afghanistan in 2005. "To suggest that I would lie under oath and make up an allegation of sexual assault because of my combat injury is disgusting. If you don't believe me that is your prerogative, but do not dishonor my service to this country."