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Pete Hegseth’s mother went on a Fox show to speak about her son’s character and defended him, saying that he has changed for the better. She is the mother of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for defense secretary.
Written by Jennifer S. Forsyth
Reporting live from the
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 morals.
During an interview on "Fox & Friends," Mrs. Hegseth mentioned that Pete has undergone a transformation and is now a different person. She expressed that he has been forgiven, redeemed, and changed for the better.
"I hope that everyone, especially our female senators, will take the time to get to know Pete today and listen to him with an open heart. It is important to hear the truth about Pete and understand that he respects women and does not mistreat them."
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 explained that she did not mean what she said in the email and had apologized to her son in a subsequent email.
Following reports of alcohol abuse and mismanagement in nonprofit organizations, an article in The New Yorker revealed allegations against Mr. Hegseth. Additionally, a woman accused him of raping her at a political conference in 2017, although no charges were filed after an investigation. Hegseth’s lawyer stated that the encounter was consensual.
The negative consequences of recent events have put Mr. Hegseth’s potential leadership 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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