The ex-sister-in-law of Pete Hegseth, chosen by Donald Trump to lead the US army, accused him of alcoholism and domestic violence in a sworn statement before a US Congressional committee.
Danielle Dietrich Hegseth provided a written statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee that she had “personally observed Hegseth’s erratic and aggressive behavior over many years.”
She was married to Pete Hegseth’s brother, Nathaniel Hegseth, from 2011 to 2019; the couple separated in 2018.
In a statement to CBS News, BBC news partner Tim Parlatore, Pete Hegseth’s lawyer, denied Danielle Hegseth’s allegations and called her a “far-left, anti-Trump Democrat” who Didn’t get along with the family.
Ms. Hegseth says her affidavit follows a request and letter from U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee.
She also stated that she provided this testimony because “my personal opinion is that Hegseth is not fit to serve as Secretary of Defense.”
She claims to have “personally witnessed Hegseth abuse alcohol on several occasions over the years,” but notes that she “did not personally witness any physical or sexual abuse by Hegseth.”
In the affidavit obtained by the BBC, Ms Hegseth testifies that Pete Hegseth’s ex-wife Samantha “told me she once hid in his Hegseth closet because she feared for her safety personal.
The incident occurred at the couple’s home between 2014 and 2016, according to the affidavit.
Samantha Hegseth was Pete Hegseth’s second wife and they share custody of three children.
Danielle Hegseth claimed she knew Samantha Hegseth “had a plan to deploy if she felt she needed to get away” from her then-husband, and that she had already sent him a safe note that would signal a call for help.
Danielle Hegseth said she initially provided those details to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In a statement to NBC News on Tuesday, Samantha Hegseth denounced her former sister-in-law’s allegations, telling the American network: “I do not believe your information is accurate.”
“There was no physical violence in my marriage,” she told NBC News, adding that she would not speak further about her marriage to Pete Hegseth.
Pete Hegseth’s lawyer, Mr. Parlatore, said Samantha Hegseth “never alleged there was abuse, she signed court documents acknowledging there was no abuse and recently reaffirmed the same thing during his interview with the FBI.”
The affidavit adds to a list of abuse allegations against Hegseth that surfaced during his confirmation process.
Pete Hegseth is Trump’s pick for defense secretary, and he fielded questions during a lengthy — and sometimes tense — hearing before the committee last week. His nomination was removed from committee on Monday and will soon be presented to the full Senate.
In 2017, he was investigated for sexual assault allegations stemming from an alleged incident in California, but authorities have neither arrested him nor charged him with crimes. Hegseth ultimately paid his accuser to remain silent in order to avoid losing his then job at Fox News, his lawyer confirmed to CBS News.
Hegseth has also forcefully denied the allegations.including during his confirmation hearing in the US Senate.
“The alleged pattern of abuse and misconduct on the part of Mr. Hegseth is disturbing,” Reed said in a statement Tuesday. “This behavior would disqualify any service member from holding a leadership position in the military, much less being confirmed as Secretary of Defense.”
Reed also called Hegseth’s background check process “inadequate.”
According to the New York Times, a 2021 order from a Minnesota judge said neither Samantha nor Pete Hegseth claimed they were victims of domestic violence. The judge wrote that there was no determination, nor probable cause, that either parent had been “physically abused or threatened with physical violence” by the other.
Although Hegseth was initially greeted with skepticism by some Senate Republicans, Trump and his allies campaigned aggressively to push his nomination through.
