Transition of power from
Transition of power
Transition of power
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The mother of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s nominee for defense secretary went on the same network where her son used to work to vouch for his character, stating that he has transformed for the better.
Written by Jennifer S. Forsyth
Writing from the capital
On Wednesday morning, Penelope Hegseth, the mother of Pete Hegseth, stated that her son has changed since 2018. At that time, she had sent an email accusing him of consistently mistreating women and lacking integrity and moral character.
During an interview on "Fox & Friends," Mrs. Hegseth stated that Pete has transformed into a new individual, having been redeemed, forgiven, and changed.
"I hope that everyone, particularly our female senators, will take the time to truly understand who Pete is and listen to him with an open heart. It’s important to hear the truth about Pete and recognize that he respects women and does not mistreat them."
She made an appearance 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 did not mean what she said in the email and had apologized to her son in a subsequent email.
Following reports of alcohol abuse and mismanagement of nonprofit organizations in an article by The New Yorker, Mr. Hegseth faced additional scrutiny. A woman filed a police complaint alleging he raped her at a political conference in 2017, but no charges were brought after an investigation. Mr. Hegseth’s lawyer stated that the encounter was consensual.
The negative consequences of the situation have put Mr. Hegseth’s potential appointment as head 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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