Confirmation Hearing Marred by Sexual Assault Allegations and Excessive Drinking
Senate Approval Prospects Remain Uncertain
Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of Defense nominee who has faced allegations of sexual assault, excessive drinking, and infidelity, is now under scrutiny for his violent behavior ahead of his Senate confirmation. As a series of unsavory incidents have come to light, his prospects for Senate approval have become uncertain.
According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 21st (local time), a statement alleging that Hegseth was very violent toward his wife was submitted to the federal Senate conducting the confirmation hearing. The statement reportedly contains accounts personally witnessed or relayed to Daniel, the ex-wife of Hegseth’s brother, NYT reported.
Daniel said that Hegseth’s second wife, Samantha, once hid in a closet out of fear, and although she did not directly witness Hegseth’s physical or sexual abuse, she observed years of unstable and aggressive behavior. Daniel also claimed that Hegseth exhibited "erratic and aggressive behavior." She added that she had seen Hegseth intoxicated to the point of passing out on multiple occasions.
Samantha also reportedly told investigators during an FBI interview as part of Hegseth’s background check that he abused alcohol and that this drinking habit persisted, NYT reported.
These allegations surfaced while Republicans were rushing his confirmation, and NYT reported that six Republican senators privately expressed concerns upon learning of these details. With new allegations added against Hegseth, there are worries that these issues could weaken support for his Senate confirmation.
Hegseth’s legal representative claimed regarding the statement submitted to the Senate that "the author, Daniel, is an anti-Trump far-left Democrat" and "a person who harbors resentment against the entire Hegseth family."
NYT noted that the contents of the statement align with various allegations raised against Hegseth. Having been married three times, Hegseth faced a divorce lawsuit from his first wife over infidelity, and during his second marriage, he fathered a child out of wedlock and was sued for divorce. It was also confirmed that he was investigated by police in 2017 over sexual assault allegations. His confirmation hearing was marred by past personal issues amid these various allegations.
Around 2018, when his second wife Samantha filed for divorce, an email from Hegseth’s mother criticizing her son for abusing women was made public, raising further allegations of abuse against women. However, during the hearing, Hegseth denied the domestic violence allegations, stating, "There is absolutely no such fact."
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