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Pete Hegseth’s mother went on a Fox show to speak positively about her son’s character, stating that he has changed for the better. She is the mother of the individual chosen by President-elect Donald J. Trump to serve as defense secretary.
Written by Jennifer S. Forsyth
Writing from the nation
Penelope Hegseth, who is the mother of Pete Hegseth, stated on Wednesday morning that her son has changed since 2018. At that time, she sent an email accusing him of mistreating women regularly and lacking moral character.
During an interview on "Fox & Friends," Mrs. Hegseth described Pete as a transformed individual who has been forgiven and redeemed.
"I hope that people, especially our female senators, take the time to learn about Pete today and listen to him with an open heart. It’s important to hear the truth about Pete and understand that he does not mistreat women."
She made a public statement after The New York Times released an email she had written while Mr. Hegseth was going through a difficult divorce from his second wife. In an interview with The Times on Friday, she admitted that she did not mean what she said in the email and had since apologized to her son in a subsequent email.
Following accusations of alcohol abuse and mismanagement of charities in an article by The New Yorker, Mr. Hegseth also faced allegations of rape from a woman at a political conference in 2017. Despite no charges being brought after an investigation, Mr. Hegseth’s lawyer stated that the encounter was consensual.
The negative consequences of the fallout have put Mr. Hegseth’s prospects of leading the Defense Department in the upcoming Trump administration at risk, as President-elect Donald J. Trump is reportedly considering alternative candidates for the position.
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