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Penelope Hegseth Speaks Out: Defending Her Son’s Character Amid Trump Transition Controversy

In Citizen
January 15, 2025

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Pete Hegseth’s mother went on a Fox show to speak positively about her son’s character, stating that he has shown personal growth and change. Hegseth is the President-elect’s pick for defense secretary.

Written by Jennifer S. Forsyth

Updating from the nation

On Wednesday morning, Penelope Hegseth, the mother of Pete Hegseth, stated that her son has changed since 2018 when she sent an email accusing him of mistreating women and lacking integrity and moral character.

Mrs. Hegseth mentioned on "Fox & Friends" that Pete has transformed into a different individual, having been forgiven, redeemed, and changed.

"I really hope that people, especially our female senators, take the time to get to know Pete today and listen to him with an open heart. I want you to hear the truth about Pete and know that he does not mistreat women."

She made an appearance following the publication of an email she sent while Mr. Hegseth was going through a difficult divorce. In an interview with The Times on Friday, she stated that she didn’t mean what she said in the email and had already apologized to her son in a subsequent email.

Following reports of alcohol abuse and mismanagement within nonprofit organizations, an article in The New Yorker shed light on these issues. Additionally, Mr. Hegseth has been accused of rape at a political conference in 2017, although no charges were filed after an investigation. His lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, asserts that the encounter was consensual.

The negative consequences of recent events have put Mr. Hegseth’s potential appointment as head of the Defense Department in the upcoming Trump administration at risk. It has been reported that President-elect Donald J. Trump is considering different candidates for the position.

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