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Pete Hegseth’s mother appeared on Fox show to speak in support of her son’s character, stating that he has changed for the better. She defended her son, who has been selected by President-elect Donald J. Trump as the defense secretary.
Written by Jennifer S. Forsyth
Providing updates from
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 moral values and integrity.
During an appearance on "Fox & Friends," Mrs. Hegseth stated that Pete has transformed into a new individual, 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 ask that you listen to him with an open heart and recognize the truth about Pete. It is important to note that he does not mistreat women."
She made an appearance following the publication of 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 stated that she did not stand by 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 after a woman accused him of raping her at a political conference in 2017. Despite an investigation that did not lead to charges, Mr. Hegseth’s lawyer maintains that the encounter was consensual.
The negative consequences of the situation have put Mr. Hegseth’s potential leadership of the Defense Department in the upcoming Trump administration at risk, as President-elect Donald J. Trump is reportedly considering different candidates for the position.
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