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Transition of power
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On a Fox show, Pete Hegseth’s mother spoke out in defense of her son’s character, stating that he had undergone significant personal growth and change. She is the mother of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for defense secretary.
Written by Jennifer S. Forsyth
Writing from the capital
Penelope Hegseth, the mother of Pete Hegseth, stated on Wednesday morning that her son has changed since 2018 when she sent an email accusing him of mistreating women regularly and lacking integrity and character.
During an interview on "Fox & Friends," Mrs. Hegseth expressed that Pete has transformed into a different person, having been redeemed, forgiven, and changed.
"I am hopeful that today people, especially our female senators, will take the time to understand who Pete really is. I urge you to listen to him with compassion and truly hear the truth about Pete. It is important to note that he does not mistreat women."
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 stated that she did not stand by the comments made in that email and had since apologized to her son in a subsequent email.
Following allegations of alcohol abuse and mismanagement of nonprofit organizations reported in a recent article in The New Yorker, a police complaint was filed against Mr. Hegseth by a woman who accused him of rape at a political conference in 2017. Despite the investigation yielding no charges, Mr. Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, maintains that the encounter was consensual.
The negative consequences of recent events have put Mr. Hegseth’s potential appointment as the head of the Defense Department in the upcoming Trump administration at risk. It is rumored that President-elect Donald J. Trump is considering alternative candidates for the position.
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