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The Evolution of Pete Hegseth: A Look at His Mother’s Defense Amid Trump Transition

In Citizen
January 13, 2025

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Pete Hegseth’s mother went on a Fox show to defend her son’s character, stating that he has changed for the better. She spoke on the network where her son used to work, in support of his character as the chosen defense secretary by President-elect Donald J. Trump.

Written by Jennifer S. Forsyth

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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 moral character.

During an interview on "Fox & Friends," Mrs. Hegseth mentioned that Pete has undergone a transformation and is now a different individual. She described him as redeemed, forgiven, and changed.

"I hope that people, especially our female senators, take the time to get to know Pete today. I encourage you to listen to him with an open heart and hear the truth about Pete. It’s important to note that he does not mistreat women."

The woman’s appearance happened 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 explained that she didn’t mean what she wrote in that email and had already apologized to her son in a subsequent email.

Following recent allegations of alcohol abuse and mismanagement within nonprofit organizations, a story was published in The New Yorker. Additionally, Mr. Hegseth has been accused of rape by a woman at a political conference in 2017, although no charges were brought against him after an investigation. Mr. Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, stated that the encounter was consensual.

The negative consequences from the situation have put Mr. Hegseth’s potential appointment as head of the Defense Department in the upcoming Trump administration at risk, as President-elect Donald J. Trump is reportedly considering different candidates for the position.

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