Washington
CNN
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Pete Hegseth’s ex-wife recently made a new statement to the FBI regarding the defense nominee’s drinking, according to two sources familiar with the matter, an issue that became a source of controversy during his confirmation process .
Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker and Ranking Democratic Member Jack Reed were briefed on Samantha Hegseth’s previously unreported statement on January 16, two days after the Senate hearing. confirmation of Pete Hegseth by the commission, the sources said. Wicker and Reed were initially informed of the FBI background checks before the confirmation hearing, according to another source familiar with the matter. Since then, the FBI has interviewed Samantha Hegseth and included her statement in its additional review.
Democrats pressured Hegseth during his confirmation hearing over allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive alcohol consumption. Hegseth has repeatedly denied all allegations of misconduct, including his drinking problem, but has said he would not drink while serving as defense secretary if confirmed.
At the briefing, Wicker and Reed were told that the FBI was linked to Samantha Hegseth and that she had made a statement discussing her concerns about Pete Hegseth’s drinking. A source familiar with the statement said Samantha Hegseth told the FBI: “He drinks more often than he doesn’t.” »
The close source noted that Samantha and Pete Hegseth have been divorced since 2017.
“There’s nothing new here and we look forward to the confirmation vote,” Tim Parlatore, Pete Hegseth’s lawyer, told CNN.
Samantha Hegseth did not respond to CNN’s request for comment. The FBI declined to comment.
Reed and Wicker received the briefing days before the committee voted to advance Hegseth’s Senate nomination. The vote fell along party lines, with Reed voting against Hegseth’s nomination and Wicker voting to advance him.
Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, submitted an affidavit to the Senate about Pete Hegseth’s conduct that became public Tuesday, accusing Hegseth of being “abusive” toward his second wife, Samantha Hegseth.
Danielle Hegseth, who was married to Pete Hegseth’s brother from 2011 to 2019, did not specify the nature of the abuse in the affidavit, writing that she had “not personally witnessed any physical or sexual abuse of Hegseth’s Part,” but that Samantha Hegseth sometimes feared for her safety and had a code word if she needed help getting away from her husband.
Danielle Hegseth also alleged that she saw Hegseth abuse alcohol at several family gatherings and saw him drinking to excess in public on two occasions in 2013.
Parlatore said in a statement to CNN on Tuesday that Danielle Hegseth “hates Pete and there is no truth to any of this. Most of what she says are things she hasn’t witnessed.
During his confirmation hearing last week, Hegseth acknowledged that he was “not a perfect person” but claimed that the allegations against him, including a claim that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2017 , were part of a “coordinated smear campaign.”
Democrats pressured Hegseth during the hearing over allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking.
Following the release of Danielle Hegseth’s affidavit on Tuesday, Democrats complained that the information was not part of the FBI background investigation that had been shared with leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Danielle Hegseth submitted the affidavit after a request from Reed.
