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Penelope Hegseth Defends Son’s Character Amid Transition Turmoil: A Mother’s Perspective on Pete Hegseth’s Redemption

In Citizen
January 13, 2025

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Pete Hegseth’s mother went on a Fox show to speak positively about her son’s character, emphasizing that he has grown and changed. She was supporting her son, who was chosen by President-elect Donald J. Trump to be defense secretary.

Written by Jennifer S. Forsyth

Updating from the capital

On Wednesday morning, Penelope Hegseth, the mother of Pete Hegseth, stated that her son has changed since 2018 when she sent an email accusing him of mistreating women and lacking morals and integrity.

During an interview on "Fox & Friends," Mrs. Hegseth mentioned that Pete has undergone a transformation and is now a different individual. She stated that he has been redeemed, forgiven, and changed for the better.

"I really hope that people, especially our female senators, take the time to learn more about Pete today. I hope you will listen to him with an open heart and truly hear the truth about Pete," she expressed. Additionally, she emphasized that Pete does not mistreat women.

She became known 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 didn’t stand by what she said in the email and had apologized to her son in a subsequent email.

Following recent reports of alcohol abuse and mismanagement within nonprofit organizations, an article in The New Yorker revealed these allegations. Additionally, Mr. Hegseth has been accused of raping a woman at a political conference in 2017, although no charges were filed after an investigation. Mr. Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, maintains that the encounter was consensual.

The negative consequences of recent events have put Mr. Hegseth at risk of not being chosen to head the Defense Department in the upcoming Trump administration. President-elect Donald J. Trump is reportedly considering different candidates for the position as a result.

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