Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, is combatting new allegations that his ex-wife feared for her safety because of his volatile behavior.
It is the latest in a string of misconduct allegations against Hegseth who is on the cusp of confirmation with a vote in the Senate this week.
The new claims threaten to derail the nominee’s support as some Republicans have expressed reservations about the former Fox News host’s qualifications.
Though some Republicans are slamming the move and say Democrats are trying to use the same playbook as they did with Brett Kavanaugh.
The bombshell testimony given by Danielle Hegseth was obtained by the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, NBC News first reported.
Danielle writes in a sworn affidavit that Samantha Hegseth, Pete Hegseth’s spouse from 2010 – 2017, was scared for her safety due to her then-husband’s volatile behavior.
She cites private conversations the two had at the time as the basis for her claims, saying Samantha disclosed Pete showed ‘erratic and aggressive behavior over many years.’
Pete and his ex-wife Samantha Hegseth
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be Defense Secretary, poses for a photo with Cabinet picks, other nominees and appointments, at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. New allegations against Hegseth surfaced on Tuesday
Pete Hegseth and his wife Jennifer Rauchet
‘Samantha also told me that she once hid in her closet from Hegseth because she feared for her personal safety,’ another portion of the affidavit said, according to PunchBowl News.
The nominee, meanwhile, completely denies the allegations.
‘Mr. Hegseth categorically denies every word of every allegation,’ an aide for Hegseth told DailyMail.com in a statement.
‘I would also refer you to Samantha Hegseth’s statement, which says these statements are false, and the court document that the Armed Services Committee submitted for the record attesting to this fact,’ they continued.
Samantha Hegseth also poured cold water on the fresh claims, telling NBC News of the allegations: ‘I do not believe your information to be accurate, and I have cc’d my lawyer.’
‘There was no physical abuse in my marriage. This is the only further statement I will make to you, I have let you know that I am not speaking and will not speak on my marriage to Pete. Please respect this decision.’
Hegseth’s lawyer, Tim Parlatore, has similarly denied the nominee had done anything wrong.
‘Sam has never alleged that there was any abuse, she signed court documents acknowledging that there was no abuse and recently reaffirmed the same during her FBI interview,’ Parlatore said in a statement to NBC.
‘Belated claims by Danielle Dietrich, an anti-Trump far left Democrat who is divorced from Mr. Hegseth’s brother and never got along with the Hegseth family, do nothing to change that.’
‘After an acrimonious divorce, Ms. Dietrich has had an axe to grind against the entire Hegseth family,’ the statement continued. ‘Ms. Dietrich admits that she saw nothing but is now falsely accusing Sam of lying to both the Court and to the FBI because of private, undocumented statements that she allegedly made 10 years ago.’
US Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth (L) and wife Jennifer Rauchet attend the Commander-In-Chief inaugural ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be Defense secretary, embraces his wife Jennifer Rauche at the completion of a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing for his confirmation, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025
Hegseth has been plagued with sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse allegations throughout his confirmation process. He’s admitted to not being a ‘perfect person,’ but has denied any wrongdoing.
An email even surfaced from Hegseth’s mother in which she wrote how his treatment of women upset her, though she later admitted sending the fiery-worded email was wrong of her.
The top Democrat on the panel, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., sent a letter to Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, on January 18 asking for ‘a statement attesting to your personal knowledge about Mr. Hegseth’s fitness to occupy this important position.’
Danielle Hegseth, who wrote in response to Reed’s letter: ‘I have chosen to come forward publicly, at significant personal sacrifice, because I am deeply concerned by what Hegseth’s confirmation would mean for our military and our country.’
‘I have been assured that making this public statement will ensure that certain Senators who are still on the fence will vote against Hegseth’s confirmation,’ she continues, according to a copy of the affidavit reviewed by NBC.
Jennifer Rauchet is Hegseth’s third wife
U.S. President Donald Trump is interviewed by Fox and Friends co-host Pete Hegseth at the White House in Washington, U.S. April 6, 2017
Hegseth will need 51 senators to vote for his confirmation to become defense secretary
The new claims against Hegseth come just before he is expected to receive a confirmation vote by all 100 members of the Senate.
He needs to get 51 affirmative votes to officially be confirmed into the Pentagon’s top spot.
Republicans currently hold a 51 – 47 majority in the chamber, meaning if one GOP lawmaker votes against Hegseth, his chances are dashed.
Still, there are two vacant Senate seats that will soon be filled by Republicans after Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio left the chamber to join the Trump administration.
Former Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has been selected to fill Rubio’s seat while former Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted will fill Vance’s seat.
