Unredacted Affidavit Unveils New Allegation Against Pete Hegseth Regarding His Behavior Toward Ex-Wife
Pete Hegseth denies the allegations outlined in an affidavit filed by his former sister-in-law, which was previously withheld from the Senate Armed Services Committee.
WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, senators across party lines voiced growing concerns about the thoroughness of the vetting process for Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, as new revelations about his background were raised. The allegations, not previously disclosed in Hegseth’s FBI background check, have raised doubts among lawmakers about the transparency of the nomination process.
The source of the allegations is an affidavit filed by Danielle Hegseth, Pete Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, which includes claims that Pete made his ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth, “fear for her safety” during their marriage. This affidavit, which was first reported by NBC News, was submitted in response to a request from Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Danielle Hegseth explained that she had provided information to the FBI over two conversations, the first occurring in December and the second just days before the confirmation hearing. However, the Trump transition team did not share this information with Senate committee leadership before the hearing, raising concerns over the adequacy of the background check.
Samantha Hegseth, responding to inquiries from NBC News, issued a statement denying the claims of physical abuse in her marriage. She has refrained from further comments, stating that she does not wish to discuss her marriage to Pete Hegseth.
Among the allegations in the affidavit, Danielle Hegseth claims that Samantha once hid in a closet to escape Pete and that she had developed escape plans, which were activated at one point. In the newly unredacted version of the affidavit, an additional and previously unreported allegation has surfaced: Danielle Hegseth states that Samantha confided in her about an incident in which Pete allegedly grabbed her groin without consent between 2014 and 2016. Danielle emphasizes that while she did not witness the alleged abuse herself, she believed Samantha's account due to what she had observed of Pete's "erratic and aggressive behavior."
Pete Hegseth’s attorney, Tim Parlatore, strongly denied the allegations, pointing to Samantha’s denial and accusing Danielle of making false claims. "We are aware that Samantha has rejected these allegations, and NBC should not give them credence as facts," Parlatore said in a statement.
The revelation of the unredacted affidavit has prompted further scrutiny from senators, including Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who expressed concerns about the incomplete background check. Collins emphasized the importance of having a comprehensive picture of a nominee's past when making confirmation decisions. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who also viewed the affidavit, said he was unaware that the Trump transition team, not the FBI, controlled what information was shared with the Senate committee. He has since taken steps to verify the allegations and is keeping an open mind on Hegseth’s nomination.
Senators such as Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, have backed Hegseth’s nomination, pointing to the lack of corroborating evidence and noting that Samantha Hegseth has denied the allegations.
Samantha and Pete Hegseth, who have three children together, had previously filed a joint court statement in 2021, declaring that neither had been a victim of domestic abuse. In light of the new claims, some senators have questioned the adequacy of the background investigation, with Sen. Reed acknowledging the unusual nature of the multiple briefings he received on the matter.
The White House has not commented extensively on the allegations but has maintained that the FBI’s role is to fact-find, not to make judgments about the findings. The final vote on Hegseth’s nomination is expected soon, with a simple majority required for confirmation in the Senate. A vote to advance his nomination occurred on Thursday, with Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins joining Democrats in voting no.
As the confirmation process moves forward, the new allegations and the procedural questions raised by senators remain central points of discussion.