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Pete Hegseth’s mother went on a Fox show to speak about her son’s character and defend him. She mentioned that he has changed for the better since working there.
Written by Jennifer S. Forsyth
Writing from the capital
On Wednesday morning, Penelope Hegseth, the mother of Pete Hegseth, stated that her son had changed since 2018. She had previously sent an email accusing him of mistreating women and lacking integrity and character.
Mrs. Hegseth mentioned on "Fox & Friends" that Pete has transformed into a new individual, having been redeemed, forgiven, and changed.
"I really want people, especially our female senators, to take the time to understand who Pete is today. I hope you will listen to him with an open heart and see the truth about him. It’s important to note that he does not mistreat women."
She made an appearance following The New York Times’ publication of an email she sent 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 did not stand by what was said in that email and had apologized to her son in a subsequent email.
Following accusations of alcohol abuse and mismanagement of nonprofit organizations reported in an article in The New Yorker this week, Mr. Hegseth faced further scrutiny. Additionally, a woman made a police complaint alleging that he raped her at a political conference in 2017. However, after an investigation, no charges were filed and Mr. Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, stated that the encounter was consensual.
The negative consequences from both incidents have put Mr. Hegseth’s potential appointment as head of the Defense Department in the upcoming Trump administration at risk. There are reports that President-elect Donald J. Trump is considering different individuals for the position instead.
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