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Pete Hegseth’s mother appeared on Fox News to speak about her son’s character and defended him by saying he has changed for the better. She was discussing her son, who has been selected by President-elect Donald J. Trump to serve as defense secretary.
Written by Jennifer S. Forsyth
Writing from the nation
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.
During an interview on "Fox & Friends," Mrs. Hegseth mentioned that Pete has undergone a transformation and is now a different person. She stated that he has been redeemed, forgiven, and changed.
"I hope that people, especially the female senators, take the time to truly understand who Pete is today. I ask that you listen to him with an open heart and recognize the truth of his character," she expressed, emphasizing that Pete does not mistreat women.
She made an appearance following The New York Times releasing an email she had written while Mr. Hegseth was going through a difficult divorce with his second wife. In an interview with The Times on Friday, she mentioned that she did not stand by what was said in the email and had apologized to her son in a subsequent email.
Following recent accusations of alcohol abuse and mismanagement of nonprofit organizations detailed in an article in The New Yorker, Mr. Hegseth is also facing allegations of rape at a political conference in 2017. Despite an investigation that did not lead to any charges, Mr. Hegseth’s lawyer maintains that the encounter was consensual.
The negative effects of the situation have put Mr. Hegseth’s prospects of becoming the leader of 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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