In the midst of Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearings to become President Trump’s Secretary of Defense, a sworn affidavit has surfaced from his former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, raising serious allegations about his past behavior. Danielle, who was married to Pete’s brother from 2011 to 2019, claimed that Pete’s actions over the years caused his second wife, Samantha, to fear for her safety and resulted in alcohol abuse.
According to the affidavit obtained by CBS News, Danielle shared with the Senate Armed Services Committee her knowledge of what Samantha had confided to her during their marriage. Samantha allegedly had to hide in a closet between 2014 and 2016 to escape Pete’s aggressive behavior. The document also details an emergency plan between the two women, in which Samantha would send a “safe word” to Danielle in case she needed help getting away.
While Danielle acknowledged she didn’t witness the abuse firsthand, she stated that she had been informed by Samantha of these troubling experiences. The affidavit also includes allegations about Pete’s alcohol abuse, with Danielle describing incidents where he became so intoxicated that he had to be physically removed from bars or passed out in bathrooms.
In his confirmation hearing, Pete Hegseth was asked directly about these claims by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine. Hegseth denied the accusations, stating, “Absolutely not” when asked if he had ever engaged in physical violence against any of his wives.
Despite this, the affidavit, signed in Minnesota, claims that these personal stories were shared with the FBI during a background check as part of Hegseth’s nomination process. Danielle’s decision to come forward, she says, is based on her belief that he is not fit for the position of Secretary of Defense. She urged senators to weigh her testimony as part of their confirmation vote, which had already moved out of committee.
Pete Hegseth’s lawyer, Tim Parlatore, strongly denied the allegations, dismissing Danielle’s claims as politically motivated, citing her divorce from Hegseth’s brother and calling her an “anti-Trump far-left Democrat.” Parlatore also pointed out that Samantha, Hegseth’s ex-wife, had never alleged any abuse, citing signed court documents and reaffirming her stance during the FBI interview.
Though Samantha Hegseth has not publicly commented, she did respond to a request from NBC News, stating, “I do not believe your information to be accurate,” while declining to discuss her marriage to Pete.
At the Senate confirmation hearing on January 14, Hegseth also faced tough questions about his views on women in the military and an accusation of sexual assault, which he also denied. Despite the ongoing controversy, Republican senators, including Sen. Joni Ernst, expressed support for Hegseth’s confirmation.
The allegations and the controversy surrounding Pete Hegseth’s confirmation show that his path to securing the position of Secretary of Defense is anything but straightforward. The Senate now faces a difficult decision as they weigh these serious claims against Hegseth’s qualifications for the role.
