Peter Hegseth, President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, appears during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill, Jan. 14.
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Pete Hegsoth, President Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, had a drinking problem and his behavior caused his second wife, Samantha, to fear for his safety, his former sister-in-law testified. told Senate lawmakers in a letter.
NPR obtained the affidavit from multiple sources familiar with the matter who were not able to share the affidavit publicly.
Danielle Hegseth, Pat Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, submitted this affidavit to Sen. Jack Reid, DR.I. submitted in response to a letter from, which asked him for “personal information as to Mr. Hegseth’s fitness to hold this important position.” In the affidavit, Daniel Hegseth states that it is his personal opinion that Hegseth is unqualified for the position of Secretary of Defense.
In an email to NBC News, who first reported the story, Samantha Hegseth said: “First and foremost, I have not and will not comment on my marriage to Pete Hegseth. I do not have a representative to speak on my behalf, nor have I ever told anyone about my relationship. “To tell or tell the details of the wedding. From me, whether it’s a reporter, a member of the committee, a member of the transition team, etc.”
Pat Hegseth’s attorney denied the allegations against NBC.
“Sam has never alleged that any abuse took place, signed court documents admitting that no abuse took place and recently confirmed this during his FBI interview,” the attorney, Tim Parlatore told NBC.
NPR has reached out to Heg6 for comment.
Several Republican senators, including Roger Wicker, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, told NPR that Mr. Hegseth’s ex-wife has denied allegations of abuse.
Still, the panel’s top Democrat said the affidavit should give the Senate pause.
“As I have been saying for months, reports of Mr. Hegseth’s history of alleged sexual abuse, alcoholism, and public misconduct require a comprehensive background investigation,” Reed, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. said “I am concerned that the background check process is inadequate, and this affidavit confirms that fact.”
Several Republican senators denied the allegations Tuesday night, saying the on-the-record statement came after a public hearing on Hegseth’s nomination and suggested it was a political campaign ahead of the Senate’s vote to confirm Hegseth. is part of Many others said they had not seen the document.
Wicker said he expects Hegseth’s nomination to move forward.
“I think he has an ax to grind,” Wicker said when asked about Daniel Hegseth’s decision to submit an affidavit.
Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., one of the top GOP leaders in the Senate, said he doesn’t believe Hegseth’s prospects have changed.
“It seems like a desperate ploy by the Democrats being run by the left, because they know we have the votes to confirm it,” Barrasso said at the Capitol.
Hegseth’s nomination It was kicked out of committee Monday in a 14-13 party-line vote. After the affidavit was made public, the full Senate voted to begin consideration of his nomination on Tuesday.
In the affidavit, Daniel Hegseth says he personally saw Hegseth intoxicated in 2009 and that he “drunkenly screamed in my face.”
She also says that her ex-sister-in-law was “fearing for her personal safety” during their marriage, and that she planned to “text me a safe word/code word” that meant She wanted someone to go to Minnesota to help her
In the document, she explains that she decided to come forward “because I am deeply concerned about what Higseth’s confirmation will mean for our military and our country and because I have been assured that Making a public statement will ensure that some senators who are still on the fence will vote against Hegseth’s nomination.”
The development fits into a broader pattern of accusations that have dogged Hegseth since Trump nominated him for defense secretary. Democrats have expressed concern over the allegations of alcohol abuse. Former staff at Concerned Veterans for America, which Hegseth led, have accused him of on-the-job drinking, financial mismanagement and inappropriate behavior with staff. Former Fox News colleagues have also alleged that Hegseth behaved inappropriately while drinking. Hegseth has repeatedly referred to the allegations against him – including sexual assault – as part of a “systematic smear campaign in the media”.
