Senators were presented with an affidavit on Tuesday from Pete Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, detailing concerns about the nominee for defense secretary. She mentioned that his behavior had led his second wife to feel unsafe. This affidavit was provided in response to a request from Senator Jack Reed for information on Hegseth’s suitability for the role. Reed emphasized the need for a thorough background investigation due to allegations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and public misconduct against Hegseth.
Danielle’s affidavit described instances of threatening behavior by Hegseth towards his second wife, Samantha, prompting her to fear for her safety. Despite attempts to reach Samantha for comment on the allegations, she declined to provide further details on her marriage to Pete, stating that there was no physical abuse. A lawyer for Pete Hegseth, Tim Parlatore, countered the allegations, claiming that Samantha had previously acknowledged no abuse in court documents and reaffirmed this during an FBI interview.
Parlatore also criticized Danielle, alleging that she had personal grievances against the Hegseth family and was making false accusations. He highlighted a 2021 court document signed by both Pete and Samantha, stating that neither had claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse.
A redacted copy of an affidavit reviewed by NBC News reveals Danielle Hegseth’s decision to speak publicly about her concerns regarding Pete Hegseth’s confirmation and its implications for the military and the country. Danielle states that her willingness to come forward publicly, despite personal sacrifices, is driven by her deep concerns about the potential impact of Hegseth’s confirmation. She also mentions that she was assured that her public statement would influence certain Senators to vote against Hegseth’s confirmation.
The affidavit details the strained relationship between Pete Hegseth and Samantha Hegseth, who were married in 2010 and divorced in 2018, and have three children. Danielle shared the allegations with FBI agents in a background investigation interview on December 30, 2024, and later provided additional information to the FBI after Hegseth’s Senate testimony.
Concerns have been raised about the handling of the information provided by Danielle to the FBI and its communication to the Senate committee. A statement from an advisor to Hegseth questioned the credibility of the allegations and NBC’s reporting standards. Democratic staffers reportedly learned of the allegations from Danielle after Hegseth’s confirmation hearing.
The allegations come amid previous reports about Hegseth’s drinking habits and his nomination to lead the Department of Defense under President-elect Donald Trump. Questions have been raised about the FBI’s background check of Hegseth and the information shared with the Senate committee prior to the confirmation hearing. Despite party-line support in the committee vote, concerns persist about the thoroughness of the vetting process and the communication between parties involved.
Senator Wicker of Mississippi was approached for comments regarding any concerns he might have about potential new allegations emerging against nominee Hegseth. In response, Wicker addressed the media saying, “I think all of you probably heard a whisper of a rumor earlier today, which was anonymous, unsubstantiated and was contrary to some court documents that had been placed in the record at the hearing.”
The Senate is anticipated to hold a vote on Hegseth’s confirmation, tentatively scheduled for Thursday. Should the vote proceed, Hegseth would require a simple majority, equivalent to 51 votes from the Senate’s 53 Republicans.
