Hegseth and ex-wife deny claims by ex-sister-in-law
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Pete Hegseth's former sister-in-law said the defense secretary nominee's ex-wife feared for her safety, according to a sworn affidavit reviewed by Axios.
Driving the news: Hegseth denies the claims in the affidavit, and his ex-wife says he was never physically abusive. Hegseth is a Senate floor vote away from running the Pentagon.
- Lawmakers were viewing the affidavit in the Capitol on Tuesday afternoon.
- "Mr. Hegseth categorically denies each and every allegation. The only thing it got right is the spelling of his name," said Arthur Schwartz, a spokesperson for Pete Hegseth.
Zoom in: Danielle Hegseth, who was formerly married to Pete Hegseth's brother, claimed in an affidavit that the former Fox News host made his ex-wife fear for her personal safety.
- The affidavit was submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee, which has overseen Pete Hegseth's confirmation process.
- Hegseth's second wife, Samantha Hegseth, denied the allegations in a statement to NBC on Tuesday. "There was no physical abuse in my marriage," she said in a statement.
- "I do not believe your information to be accurate, and I have cc'd my lawyer," Samantha Hegseth told NBC.
The big picture: Danielle Hegseth said in the affidavit that Samantha Hegseth had an escape plan, which involved Samantha texting Danielle a safe word if she were ever in trouble.
- Danielle Hegseth said that Samantha Hegseth texted her the safe word sometime between 2015 and 2016.
- The affidavit also details allegations of Pete Hegseth's drinking, including saying he drank to the point of throwing up and passing out in 2008 or 2009.
The bottom line: Senate Democrats have criticized Hegseth's background check, arguing that it was incomplete and only covered a modest part of his history.
- The Trump transition team set the parameters of the FBI background check, according to a source familiar with the process.
- Only one Democrat — Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) — has been briefed about the background check.
- "As I have said for months, the reports of Mr. Hegseth's history of alleged sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and public misconduct necessitate an exhaustive background investigation. I have been concerned that the background check process has been inadequate, and this sworn affidavit confirms that fact," Reed said in a statement on Tuesday.
