Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, is facing new assault allegations as his nomination goes to the full Senate for a vote. While Hegseth’s former sister-in-law says his behavior was violent and erratic, Hegseth’s ex-wife largely declined to comment on the story.
On Tuesday, Jan. 21, senators received an affidavit allegedly from Danielle Hegseth, who was previously married to Pete’s brother. NBC News reports that in the affidavit, Danielle claims Pete has an alcohol abuse problem and accuses him of abusing his ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth, during their marriage from 2010 to 2018.
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Danielle also alleges Pete exhibited erratic behavior and that Samantha feared for her safety. Danielle claims that on one occasion, Samantha hid from Pete in a closet and created escape plans, including texting a code word to family and friends “if she felt she needed to get away from Hegseth.”
However, NBC News reports that Samantha Hegseth denies these allegations. According to the report, NBC News contacted Samantha, and she responded via email, stating:
“First and foremost, I have not and will not comment on my marriage to Pete Hegseth. I do not have representatives speaking on my behalf, nor have I ever asked anyone to share or speak about the details of my marriage on my behalf, whether it be a reporter, a committee member, a transition team member, etc.”
She added, “I do not believe your information to be accurate, and I have CC’d my lawyer.”
“There was no physical abuse in my marriage. This is the only further statement I will make to you, I have let you know that I am not speaking and will not speak on my marriage to Pete. Please respect this decision,” she concluded.
Last week, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill, Hegseth was pressed on the allegations of abuse.
“Did you ever engage in any acts of physical violence against any of your wives?” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., asked.
“Senator, absolutely not,” Hegseth responded.
Tim Parlatore, a lawyer for Pete Hegseth, dismissed the allegations, telling NBC News in a statement:
“Sam has never alleged that there was any abuse. She signed court documents acknowledging that there was no abuse and recently reaffirmed the same during her FBI interview. Belated claims by Danielle Dietrich, an anti-Trump far-left Democrat who is divorced from Mr. Hegseth’s brother and never got along with the Hegseth family, do nothing to change that.”
Only 51 of 53 Republican senators are needed to confirm Hegseth as defense secretary. The full Senate vote could take place as soon as Thursday, Jan. 23.
