A former sister-in-law of Pete Hegseth submitted an affidavit to senators on Tuesday accusing Mr. Hegseth, President Trump’s nominee for secretary of protection, of being so “abusive” towards his second spouse that she as soon as hid in a closet. from him and had a protected phrase to name for assist if she wanted to get away from him.
In a Capitol Hill workplace Tuesday afternoon, senators had been reviewing the affidavit of Danielle Diettrich Hegseth, the previous spouse of Mr. Hegseth’s brother, who described Pete Hegseth’s “erratic and aggressive” habits that sparked fears to his second spouse for her security. In line with a replica obtained by the Instances, he additionally claims he continuously drank excessively in private and non-private, together with on one event she witnessed whereas he was carrying his navy uniform.
The allegations, which Mr. Hegseth denied by means of his lawyer, surfaced as follows: Republicans were trying to speed up his confirmationand will jeopardize this push. A handful of Republicans who realized of the accusations in current days have privately expressed severe considerations about them, based on folks aware of the conversations, suggesting the brand new info may probably undermine the help wanted for its approval by the Senate.
In his affidavit, reported earlier by NBC NewsDanielle Hegseth stated she spoke with the FBI about Pete Hegseth and got here ahead to Congress in hopes that her story would persuade sufficient Republicans to dam him. She stated she was submitting her account on the request of Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the highest Democrat on the Armed Companies Committee.
“I’ve been assured that making this public assertion will be sure that some senators who’re nonetheless hesitant will vote in opposition to Hegseth’s affirmation,” she wrote.
Mr. Reed stated the account describes disqualifying habits and “confirms my fears” that the FBI’s background test on Mr. Hegseth had been incomplete.
“The allegations of abuse and misconduct by Mr. Hegseth are disturbing,” he stated. “This habits would disqualify any service member from holding a management place within the navy, a lot much less being confirmed as Secretary of Protection.”
Within the affidavit, which was despatched to the Armed Companies Committee on Tuesday, Danielle Hegseth wrote that Mr. Hegseth’s second spouse, Samantha Hegseth, “as soon as hid in his Hegseth closet as a result of she feared for his private security.
She additionally stated Samantha Hegseth gave her a password, shared with Danielle and one other individual, that she would use if she wanted assist. In line with the affidavit, Samantha Hegseth despatched the code phrase to Danielle Hegseth as soon as in 2015 or 2016, and Danielle contacted the opposite individual to hold out the plan.
Ms. Hegseth stated she “didn’t personally witness any bodily or sexual abuse by Hegseth” however noticed what she described as “erratic and aggressive habits” from her. leaves for a few years. She additionally recounted a variety of cases in 2008 or 2009 and round 2013 wherein she noticed Mr Hegseth being drunk to the purpose of passing out.
The brand new allegations are strikingly much like a collection of accusations which have already surfaced since Mr. Trump selected him to steer the Pentagon, and which Mr. Hegseth has categorically denied and dismissed as politically motivated smears.
Tim Parlatore, Mr. Hegseth’s lawyer, denied Danielle Hegseth’s accusations in an announcement.
“Sam has by no means alleged that there was any abuse, she signed court docket paperwork acknowledging that there was no abuse and not too long ago reiterated the identical throughout her interview with the FBI.” stated Mr. Parlatore, accusing Danielle Hegseth of being “a far-left anti-Trump.” Democrat” who “had an ax to defend in opposition to your entire Hegseth household.”
Samantha Hegseth couldn’t be reached for remark Tuesday.
In a 2021 order for the appointment of a parenting coordinator, a Minnesota household court docket choose stated neither Hegseth claimed to have been a sufferer of home violence. The choose additionally stated the court docket didn’t decide that there was possible trigger to imagine that one father or mother “was bodily abused or threatened with bodily violence by the opposite father or mother.” The Hegseths share custody of three kids.
It stays unclear whether or not the brand new allegations will immediate Republicans to oppose Mr. Hegseth, whose nomination was accredited behind closed doorways Monday alongside social gathering traces. He can solely afford to lose three GOP votes provided that Democrats have indicated they’re ready to vote overwhelmingly in opposition to him. For now, it is the sister-in-law’s phrase in opposition to Mr. Hegseth’s, since a corroborating witness – who ought to in all probability be Samantha Hegseth – has but to come back ahead.
Mr Hegseth’s appointment had already been marred by allegations of sexual assault and accusations of public drunkenness and monetary mismanagement. He paid a settlement to the lady who accused him of raping her in 2017. He denied the lady’s allegations and was by no means charged with a criminal offense.
Danielle Hegseth’s affidavit is the primary time a former member of Mr. Hegseth’s household has publicly described private conduct that they are saying makes him unfit to steer the Pentagon. Mr. Hegseth’s mom said in a 2018 email that he had mistreated girls for years, however has since disavowed these emotions.
Samantha Hegseth handled Danielle Hegseth like a confidante, based on folks near their relationship. She was married to Pete Hegseth’s brother, Nathaniel, from 2011 to 2019; Samantha and Pete Hegseth had been married from 2010 to 2018.
At his affirmation listening to, Mr. Hegseth categorically denied bodily harming any of his ex-wives.
“Have you ever ever dedicated acts of bodily violence in opposition to any of your wives? Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, requested Mr. Hegseth throughout his affirmation listening to final week.
“Senator, completely not,” Mr. Hegseth replied. When subsequently requested twice whether or not bodily violence towards a partner ought to disqualify a candidate, he demurred, once more insisting on his innocence and calling Mr. Kaine’s query hypothetical.
Mr. Hegseth referred to as the opposite allegations “nameless smears.” Though he by no means admitted to any particular dangerous habits, he spoke emphatically about being a modified man.
“I’m not an ideal individual, however redemption is actual,” he informed senators. He additionally credited his present spouse, Jennifer Rauchet, with “altering my life.”
Most of the allegations in Danielle Hegseth’s affidavit detailed episodes of Mr. Hegseth’s obvious drunkenness, and in some, she stated, he made racist statements that she discovered offensive.
“He screamed in my face, drunk, one evening in 2009,” she wrote, recalling that Mr. Hegseth grew to become upset after she walked out of a room whereas he was telling a narrative “ with a racial connotation that bothered me.”
“He was very aggressive, going through me, wearing his navy uniform,” she added.
Maya C. Miller reviews contributed. Kitty Bennett And Julie Tate contributed to the analysis.
