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Pete Hegseth’s mother went on a Fox show to speak in support of her son’s character, stating that he has undergone positive changes. She expressed confidence in his abilities as President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for defense secretary.
Written by Jennifer S. Forsyth
Writing from the nation
Penelope Hegseth, the mother of Pete Hegseth, stated on Wednesday that her son has changed since 2018. At that time, she had sent an email accusing him of mistreating women regularly and lacking moral character.
During an interview on "Fox & Friends," Mrs. Hegseth mentioned that Pete has transformed into a new individual, having been redeemed, forgiven, and changed.
"I am hopeful that individuals, particularly female senators, will take the time to learn about Pete today. I encourage you to listen to him with an open heart and understand the truth about Pete," she expressed. She also emphasized that Pete 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. In an interview with The Times on Friday, she explained that she did not stand by what she had said in the email and had since apologized to her son in a subsequent email.
Following reports of alcohol abuse and mismanagement of nonprofit organizations, an article in The New Yorker detailed these allegations. Additionally, Peter Hegseth has been accused of raping a woman at a political conference in 2017, although no charges were filed after an investigation and Hegseth’s lawyer claims 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 different candidates for the position.
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