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Pete Hegseth’s mother went on a Fox show to talk about her son’s character, mentioning that he has changed for the better. Hegseth is the person chosen by President-elect Donald J. Trump to be defense secretary.
Written by Jennifer S. Forsyth.
Writing from the capital
Penelope Hegseth, the mother of Pete Hegseth, stated on Wednesday that her son has changed since 2018, when she sent an email accusing him of mistreating women and lacking integrity and character.
Mrs. Hegseth stated on "Fox & Friends" that Pete has transformed into a new individual, having been forgiven, redeemed, and changed.
"I hope that everyone, especially our female senators, will take the time to learn about Pete today. I ask that you listen to him with an open heart and consider the truth of what he has to say. It’s important to note that he does not mistreat women."
She made a public statement after The New York Times released an email she had sent 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 apologized to her son in a subsequent message.
Following reports of alcohol abuse and mismanagement of nonprofit organizations detailed in an article by The New Yorker, Mr. Hegseth is facing additional scrutiny. A woman filed a police complaint alleging that he raped her at a political conference in 2017, although no charges were filed after an investigation. Mr. Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, has stated that the encounter was consensual.
The negative consequences of recent events have put Mr. Hegseth’s potential leadership of the Defense Department in the upcoming Trump administration at risk. President-elect Donald J. Trump is reportedly considering alternative candidates for the position.
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