Democratic senators on the Armed Services Committee are reviewing an affidavit claiming the defense secretary is a candidate Piet Hegseth made his second wife fear for her safety.
Fox News has obtained an affidavit from Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, alleging that he has an alcohol abuse problem and has sometimes made his ex-wife, Samantha, fearful for her safety. Danielle Hegseth was married to Pete Hegseth’s brother. She is not the sister of Pete Hegseth’s second wife Samantha.
The Senate Committee of the Armed Forces The affidavit has been provided and members are in the process of reviewing it.
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Hegseth has denied all claims. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
In a statement to Fox News, Pete Hegseth’s attorney Tim Parlatore said: “Sam never alleged that there was any abuse. She signed court documents acknowledging that there was no abuse and recently confirmed the same during her FBI investigation. interview. Late 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.
“After a bitter divorce, Mrs. Dietrich has taken a heavy toll on the entire Hegseth family. Mrs. Dietrich admits she saw nothing, but now falsely accuses Sam of lying to both the court and the FBI about private undocumented affairs. statements she would have made ten years ago.”
Danielle Hegseth gave an anecdote in the document, recalling that Samantha once hid in a closet from her husband.
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Reed is the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee. (Reuters)
But Danielle Hegseth added that she herself never witnessed any abuse, physical or sexual, by Pete against Samantha.
The affidavit included additional anecdotes about Hegseth’s alleged heavy drinking, referencing several specific occasions, including one at a strip club.
In the document, Danielle Hegseth also said that her former brother-in-law is not suitable to become defense minister.
Jack ReedDR.I., the committee’s ranking member, said in a statement: “As I have been saying for months, the reports of Mr. Hegseth’s history of alleged sexual abuse, alcohol abuse and public misconduct necessitate an extensive background check. I am concerned that the background check was inadequate, and this statement confirms my fears.
“The alleged pattern of abuse and misconduct by Mr. Hegseth is disturbing. This conduct would disqualify any service member from holding a leadership position in the military, let alone an appointment as Secretary of Defense.”
Samantha Hegseth denied any physical abuse in a statement first reported by NBC News.
“There was no physical abuse in my marriage. This is the only further statement I will make to you. I have informed you that I do not and will not speak about my marriage to Pete. Please respect this decision” , she would have said. said.
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Rosen said the affidavit confirms what they already knew. (Tom Brenner)
Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., who sits on the committee, told reporters: “This just confirms what we already know about Mr. Hegseth’s behavior and the way he has lived his life and the kinds of opinions he has expressed.” had towards women. .”
“So we’ll let the Republicans make their own statement, but I think it just confirms that we already know that he is absolutely 100% unfit for this job, his character, his attitude, the problems that we have with sexual abuse, with financial mismanagement,” she says.
“I tell you there is a lot in this affidavit, and any part of it would disqualify any candidate from leading our military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., another member of the committee, told reporters.
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However, Republicans on the committee will not necessarily be swayed by the allegations.
New Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., who is also on the committee, wrote on X: “This is a desperate, last-minute attempt by Democrats and the media to smear Pete Hegseth and undermine his nomination. The claims are known to be false, but the media doesn’t care because it hurts a Republican. No one should fall for this.”
