WASHINGTON — During Pete Hegseth’s Senate confirmation hearing for Secretary of Defense, senators received an affidavit alleging Hegseth’s abuse of his second wife, causing her to fear for her safety. Hegseth denies these claims.
The affidavit, from Danielle Hegseth, the nominee’s former sister-in-law, asserts Hegseth’s unsuitability to lead the Defense Department. She initially reported her allegations to the FBI in December, expressing concern that Congress hadn’t received this information.
The affidavit details Hegseth’s alleged behavior towards his second wife, Samantha, including repeated intoxication and a system where Samantha used a safe word to signal danger. Danielle Hegseth stated that Samantha used this safe word in a text message around 2015 or 2016, prompting her to seek outside help.
Danielle Hegseth stated that she came forward due to significant concerns about Hegseth’s confirmation.
Hegseth’s attorney, Tim Parlatore, strongly refuted the allegations, calling them “belated claims” from a disgruntled ex-relative.
Parlatore’s statement emphasized Samantha Hegseth’s denial of abuse, citing court documents and her FBI interview. He described Danielle Dietrich (Danielle Hegseth’s married name) as an anti-Trump Democrat with a history of conflict with the Hegseth family.
The affidavit was submitted at the request of Senator Jack Reed, the Senate Armed Services Committee’s ranking Democrat, who sought information regarding Hegseth’s fitness for the position.
Danielle Hegseth’s affidavit details her belief that Hegseth’s marriage to Samantha was abusive, citing a 2014 incident where Samantha hid in a closet fearing for her safety. She clarified that she didn’t personally witness physical or sexual abuse.
Danielle Hegseth stated that her belief is based on Hegseth’s erratic and aggressive behavior.
Samantha Hegseth and her divorce attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Danielle Hegseth’s lawyer stated she wouldn’t comment beyond the affidavit. In a statement to NBC News, Samantha Hegseth denied physical abuse, stating it was her only comment on the matter.
Samantha and Pete Hegseth both signed a 2021 Minnesota court document during their divorce stating neither was a victim of domestic abuse.
Republican leaders expressed doubt that these allegations would affect Hegseth’s confirmation, proceeding with the nomination and taking a procedural step to ensure confirmation by the week’s end.
Senator John Barrasso, the No. 2 Republican leader, attributed the allegations to a desperate ploy by Democrats influenced by the far left.
Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, acknowledged the allegations, drawing a comparison to claims made against Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation.
Concerns were previously raised about the comprehensiveness of the FBI background check, with some claiming it lacked interviews with those who had made allegations against Hegseth. Democrats pushed for a more thorough FBI review.
During the hearing, Hegseth avoided directly answering questions about his drinking, characterizing inquiries as part of a smear campaign.
The decision on how much additional information to pursue and share rested with the Trump transition team.
According to a source familiar with the briefing (granted anonymity), the affidavit’s information wasn’t conveyed to the Armed Services Committee leaders during an earlier FBI briefing on Hegseth’s background check.
Senator Reed reiterated his concerns about the inadequacy of the background check process in a statement.
Hegseth faced questioning during his hearing about his behavior, including excessive drinking, extramarital affairs, and allegations of sexual assault, all of which he denied.
Hegseth pledged not to drink on the job, denied a 2017 sexual assault allegation but acknowledged a settlement, and was going through a divorce at the time after having a child with a Fox News producer who is now his wife.
The affidavit also includes an allegation that Hegseth, while intoxicated, repeatedly shouted “no means yes!” at a bar.
Danielle Hegseth interpreted this as Hegseth believing nonconsensual sex is acceptable.
—AP reporters Eric Tucker and Lolita C. Baldor contributed from Washington.