Allegations of abuse have surfaced against Pete Hegseth, the nominee for defense secretary, as his former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, submitted an affidavit to senators claiming he was abusive to his second wife. The affidavit, obtained by The Associated Press, details instances where Danielle Hegseth witnessed behavior that she deemed concerning.
In the affidavit, Danielle Hegseth alleges that Pete Hegseth's treatment of his second wife, Samantha, included repeat drunkenness and a domestic situation where Samantha had a safe word to indicate danger at home. She further stated that Samantha texted the safe word to her, prompting her to seek help from a third party.
Pete Hegseth denies the allegations, with his attorney vehemently refuting the claims, citing a lack of evidence and a personal vendetta against the Hegseth family by Danielle Hegseth.
Despite the allegations, Republican leaders remain steadfast in their support for Hegseth's nomination, dismissing the claims as a political ploy by Democrats. They proceeded with the nomination process, taking steps towards confirming Hegseth by the end of the week.
The allegations have sparked debate among senators, with some drawing parallels to past confirmation hearings, such as that of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Questions have also been raised about the adequacy of the FBI background check conducted on Hegseth, with calls for a more thorough investigation.
During his hearing, Hegseth faced scrutiny over his behavior, including allegations of excessive drinking, extramarital affairs, and sexual assault, all of which he has denied. He has pledged not to drink while on the job and addressed a previous settlement related to a 2017 sexual assault allegation.
The emergence of these allegations has added a new layer of complexity to Hegseth's nomination process, with senators grappling with how to proceed in light of the accusations.
