Washington Defense Secretary contender Pete Hegseth, a soldier, former Fox News anchor, and author whom President Donald Trump wants to appoint to the head of the U.S. military, came under increased scrutiny Wednesday as new accusations of misconduct and alcohol addiction surfaced.
Hegseth’s ex-sister-in-law has revealed new information in a sworn declaration, accusing him of making his second wife fear for her safety and of being so inebriated while in uniform during a Minnesota National Guard drill weekend that his brother had to carry him out of a strip club in Minneapolis.
Senate Democrats interrogated the nominee throughout his confirmation hearing, accusing him of multiple instances of sexual misbehavior and public intoxication. Hegseth has attributed the accusations to a campaign of smears. He referred to his third wife, television producer Jennifer Hegseth, who was seated behind him during his hearing, when he said, “I’m not a perfect person, as has been acknowledged, saved by the grace of God, by Jesus, and Jenny.” Tennessee is where the pair resides.
The Senate Committee on Armed Services’ senior Democrat, Sen. Jack Reed, had concerns on Wednesday about Hegseth’s suitability to head the Pentagon and the significance of rigorous monitoring of the American military and its commanders.
Reed claimed that the FBI background check that was sent to the committee did not include the testimony that Hegseth’s former sister-in-law gave to the FBI in late December. The former family member was specifically asked to retell the testimony to the committee by the Democrat from Rhode Island.
As I have stated for months, a thorough background check is required due to the allegations of Mr. Hegseth’s history of public misconduct, alcohol misuse, and sexual assault. According to Reed’s statement, “I have been worried that the background check procedure has been insufficient, and this affidavit confirms that fact.”
According to Reed, the sworn statement from this brave woman, who gave it at great personal risk and with nothing in return, details a troubling pattern of mistreatment and wrongdoing by Mr. Hegseth. Any service member who engages in such behavior would be ineligible to serve in any military leadership role, much less be appointed Secretary of Defense.
States Newsroom was informed on Wednesday by the FBI that it does not comment on individual background checks.
A request for response was not immediately answered by Republican committee leadership.
Several major news sites got and reported the affidavit. At least 15 senators, including Republicans, had examined the paper by Tuesday afternoon, according to NBC News, the outlet that first reported the story.
According to Reed’s office, Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, told the committee that the nominee’s second wife, Samantha, was afraid of Hegseth’s erratic behavior and came up with a plan with family members for a safe word that could be texted once in case she needed emergency assistance. The statement explained that Samantha once sought refuge in a closet between 2014 and 2016.
Danielle reportedly recounted numerous alcoholic events, racist and misogynistic remarks, and being verbally abused by an inebriated Hegseth at a family gathering to the extent that she required assistance.
An email asking for comment from Hegseth’s attorney, Tim Parlatore, was not answered on Wednesday.
“I rely upon the public statements I’ve already made,” a man who answered Parlatore’s phone number on his law firm’s website stated.
Sam has never claimed that there was any abuse, she signed court paperwork stating that there was no abuse, and she recently reiterated this during her FBI interview, Parlatore said in a statement given to NBC News on Tuesday. That isn’t changed by the belated assertions of Danielle Dietrich, a far-left, anti-Trump Democrat who is divorced from Mr. Hegseth’s brother and has never gotten along with the Hegseth family.
Hegseth’s second wife refuted the claims to NBC News, telling the network that she would not be discussing more and that there was no physical violence in their marriage.
By a vote of 53 to 45 on Tuesday night, the Senate approved a proposal to move forward with Hegseth’s nomination. On Thursday, Hegseth may be confirmed.
The White House was contacted by States Newsroom for comment.
