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Pete Hegseth’s mother went on a Fox show to support her son’s character, stating that he has undergone positive changes. She spoke on the network where her son was employed to defend his reputation.
Written by Jennifer S. Forsyth
Writing from the capital
On Wednesday morning, Penelope Hegseth, who is Pete Hegseth’s mother, stated that her son has changed since 2018 when she sent an email criticizing him for mistreating women and lacking integrity and good moral character.
Mrs. Hegseth stated on "Fox & Friends" that Pete is like a new person now, having been redeemed, forgiven, and changed.
"I hope that everyone, especially our female senators, will take the time to understand who Pete is today. I encourage you to listen to him with an open heart and recognize the truth about him. It’s important to note that he treats women with respect and does not mistreat them."
She made an appearance after The New York Times published 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 apologized to her son in a subsequent message.
Following reports of alcohol abuse and mismanagement of nonprofit organizations in an article by The New Yorker, Mr. Hegseth is facing additional scrutiny. A woman filed a police complaint accusing him of raping her at a political conference in 2017, but no charges were filed after an investigation. Mr. Hegseth’s lawyer claimed the encounter was consensual.
The negative consequences of the situation have put Mr. Hegseth’s potential appointment as the leader of the Defense Department in the upcoming Trump administration at risk. President-elect Donald J. Trump is reportedly considering different candidates for the position due to this fallout.
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