By FARNOUSH AMIRI and TARA COPP
The sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, was previously married to the nominee’s brother, and in an affidavit obtained by The Related Press, she stated she believes that Pete Hegseth is “unfit” to run the Protection Division primarily based on what she witnessed and heard. She stated she first relayed her allegations to the FBI in December however was involved that the knowledge was not shared with Congress as senators think about Hegseth’s nomination to steer the Pentagon.
The affidavit describes Hegseth’s remedy of his second spouse, Samantha, and alleges repeat drunkenness and a home state of affairs the place Samantha Hegseth had a protected phrase to point if she was in peril at house. Danielle Hegseth stated Samantha texted that protected phrase to her someday in 2015 or 2016, which prompted her to name a 3rd celebration for assist.
“I have chosen to come forward publicly, at significant personal sacrifice, because I am deeply concerned by what Hegseth’s confirmation would mean for our military and our country,” she stated.
An lawyer for Pete Hegseth vehemently denied the allegations. Tim Parlatore stated the affidavit was full of “belated claims” by an ex-relative with “an axe to grind against the entire Hegseth family.”
“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,” Parlatore stated in an announcement. “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.”
The affidavit was filed in response to a request from Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the highest Democrat on the Senate Armed Companies Committee, who stated he was looking for her assertion to realize “personal knowledge about Mr. Hegseth’s fitness to occupy this important position.”
Within the affidavit, Danielle Hegseth says she believes Hegseth’s marriage to Samantha was abusive. She stated Samantha in 2014 informed her she as soon as hid in her closet as a result of she feared for her security. She acknowledged she did “not personally witness physical or sexual abuse” by Pete Hegseth towards his spouse.
“I believe what Samantha told me because what she told me is consistent with what I personally observed of Hegseth’s erratic and aggressive behavior over many years,” she stated.
Neither Samantha Hegseth nor an lawyer who represented her in divorce proceedings instantly responded to requests for remark. A lawyer for Danielle Hegseth famous that she wouldn’t be commenting additional than the affidavit.
Samantha Hegseth and Pete Hegseth each signed a Minnesota court docket doc in 2021 throughout their divorce saying neither claimed to be a sufferer of home abuse.
Republican leaders stated they doubted the brand new allegations would change the votes of help they’re lining up for Hegseth. They marched forward with the nomination Tuesday night, taking a key procedural step wanted to substantiate him by week’s finish.
“Looks like a desperate ploy by Democrats who are being driven by the far left because they know that we have the votes to confirm,” stated Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 2 GOP chief.
Requested if the brand new allegations modifications the votes for Hegseth, he stated: “No.”
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, stated he was conscious of the reported allegations and in contrast the state of affairs to the claims made towards Brett Kavanaugh throughout his personal affirmation listening to, earlier than he was ultimately confirmed as a Supreme Court docket justice.
“I don’t really have anything to offer,” Cornyn stated. “I was involved in the Kavanaugh hearings, where people came out of the closet making all sorts of false allegations.”
Questions had been raised earlier than Hegseth’s listening to final week in regards to the scope of the FBI background test, which some stated failed to incorporate interviews with those that had raised allegations towards him. Democrats pushed for a deeper FBI assessment that may very well be extra broadly shared with senators.
In the course of the listening to, Hegseth didn’t immediately reply sure or no to questions on his ingesting, as an alternative saying the difficulty was a part of an orchestrated smear marketing campaign towards him.
On the time, it was left to the Trump transition group to determine how way more info to pursue and share on Hegseth.
The knowledge within the affidavit was not relayed to the leaders of the Armed Companies Committee when FBI officers briefed them earlier this month on the outcomes of Hegseth’s background test, in response to an individual aware of the contents of the briefing who was granted anonymity to debate it.
“As I have said for months, the reports of Mr. Hegseth’s history of alleged sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and public misconduct necessitate an exhaustive background investigation,” Reed stated in an announcement Tuesday. “I have been concerned that the background check process has been inadequate, and this affidavit confirms my fears.”
Hegseth was grilled by senators throughout his listening to about his conduct, together with extreme ingesting, extramarital affairs and allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied.
Within the affidavit, Danielle Hegseth additionally alleges that Pete Hegseth, whereas drunk and each had been leaving a bar, repeatedly shouted “no means yes!”
“I took this to mean that, in his opinion, nonconsensual sex is ok,” Danielle Hegseth stated within the affidavit.
AP reporters Eric Tucker and Lolita C. Baldor contributed from Washington.
Initially Revealed: January 21, 2025 at 5:38 PM EST
