Senate receives affidavit from Pete Hegseth’s former sister-in-law accusing him of being ‘abusive’ toward ex-wife

Pete Hegseth’s former sister-in-law gave an affidavit to the Senate Armed Services Committee accusing him of being “abusive” toward his second ex-wife, according to a copy of the affidavit obtained by CNN.

Pete Hegseth’s former sister-in-law gave an affidavit to the Senate Armed Services Committee accusing him of being “abusive” toward his second ex-wife, according to a copy of the affidavit obtained by CNN. The allegations against Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be defense secretary, became public Tuesday, a week after his confirmation hearing and one day after the Senate Armed Services Committee approved his nomination on a party-line vote, sending it to the full Senate. Danielle Hegseth, who was married to Hegseth’s brother from 2011 to 2019, wrote in the affidavit that Hegseth was “abusive” toward his ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth. She did not specify the nature of the abuse and said she did “not personally witness physical or sexual abuse by Hegseth.” Danielle Hegseth wrote that Samantha Hegseth at times feared for her safety and that she had a code word if she needed help to get away from her husband. She said she once received a text from Samantha Hegseth with the code word sometime in 2015 or 2016. The affidavit also alleged that she witnessed Hegseth abusing alcohol at multiple family gatherings, and that she also witnessed him drinking to excess in public twice during 2013. “I have chosen to come forward publicly, at significant personal sacrifice, because I am deeply concerned by what Hegseth’s confirmation would mean for our military and our country and because I have been assured that making this public statement will ensure that certain Senators who are still on the fence will vote against Hegseth’s confirmation,” she wrote. “But for that assurance I would not subject myself or others referenced in this statement to the public scrutiny this statement is likely to cause.” CNN has reached out to Samantha Hegseth for comment. She said in a statement to NBC News, which first reported the affidavit: “There was no physical abuse in my marriage. This is the only further statement I will make to you, I have let you know that I am not speaking and will not speak on my marriage to Pete. Please respect this decision.” Tim Parlatore, a lawyer for Hegseth, said in a statement that Danielle Hegseth is a lifelong Democrat and used to pick fights with family because she was a Democrat.