New allegations of alcohol abuse, racism, and domestic violence against Pete Hegseth, President Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary, have emerged from his former sister-in-law. The Washington Post obtained an eight-page sworn affidavit detailing these claims, which could potentially derail Hegseth's confirmation process.
Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, from second left, Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi and Secretary of the Interior nominee former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, arrive before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
Samantha Hegseth, with whom Pete Hegseth shares custody of the couple’s three children, could not be reached for comment. “There was no physical abuse in my marriage,” she told NBC.“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,” he told The Post.
Danielle Hegseth said in the affidavit that she approached the Senate committee after conveying the same information to the FBI in late December. She said she was unsure whether the FBI had included the information in its background report on Pete Hegseth, which the bureau delivered last week to the leaders of the committee.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Tuesday evening advanced Senate procedure toward a vote on Hegseth later in the week. Senate Democratic aides suggested Tuesday that the new allegations in the affidavit could move some Republican senators to vote against him, sinking his nomination. The affidavit alleges that Pete Hegseth in 2009 yelled drunkenly at Danielle, following her angrily out of a room in one instance and berating her until someone else intervened.
POLITICS NOMINATION ALLEGATIONS DEFENSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
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