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president Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary-elect Pete Hegseth rejects a last-minute affidavit from his former sister-in-law with new allegations.
Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy C. Parlatore, wrote to Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., on Wednesday to dispel the claims. made by Danielle Dietrichbefore Hegseth, in his affidavit.
“While it’s difficult to respond to or credit anonymous allegations, the advantage of someone being named is that we can scrutinize their credibility and bias. In that case, credibility and bias are easy to discern,” he said . he said in correspondence obtained by Fox News Digital.
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Pete Hegseth’s lawyer is urging senators not to trust an affidavit from his brother’s ex-wife. (Reuters)
Dietrich’s affidavit was obtained by Fox News on Tuesday. Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, once married to his brother, alleged that Hegseth had an alcohol abuse problem and that he sometimes made his ex-wife, Samantha, fear for his safety.
She provided a number of anecdotes in the affidavit, including an event where Samantha allegedly hid in her husband’s closet.
However, Dietrich noted that she never witnessed any abuse, physical or sexual, from Pete against Samantha.
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The affidavit also referred to anecdotes about Hegseth’s alleged drinking, citing several specific occasions, including one at a strip club.
After the affidavit was reported, Sen. Jack ReedDR.I., the committee’s ranking member, said in a statement: “As I have said for months, the reports of Mr. Hegseth’s history of alleged sexual assault, alcohol abuse and public misconduct require a thorough investigation by background I have been concerned that the background check process was inadequate, and this affidavit confirms my fears.
“Mr. Hegseth’s alleged pattern of abuse and misconduct is disturbing. Such behavior would disqualify any service member from holding any leadership position in the military, let alone being confirmed as secretary of defense.”
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Hegseth had a committee hearing last week. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
In the document, Dietrich further suggested that his former brother-in-law is not fit to be defense secretary.
“She openly admits that her purpose is to sink the nomination, and Democrats have promised her that this statement would have that effect,” Parlatore said in his letter to Wicker.
He noted that the “vast majority” of what Dietrich was referring to were events he admitted not having witnessed. “She materially contradicts Sam’s affidavits in the divorce proceedings where she acknowledges there was no abuse,” added Hegseth’s lawyer.
Parlatore also noted that her claims “unintentionally” accuse Samantha of lying during the FBI’s background check on Hegseth.
“It is important to note that Ms. Dietrich told the FBI all of this on December 30, 2024, but the FBI was unable to corroborate her claims, which were later strongly refuted by Sam, the actual participant,” he said
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Scott criticized Democrats for obstructing the confirmation process. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“There is no basis to credit this deeply flawed and questionable affidavit, which was filed at the 11th hour in a clear and admittedly partisan attempt to derail Mr. Hegseth’s confirmation,” the letter concludes.
Dietrich’s attorney, Leita Walker, responded in a statement: “Danielle will not comment beyond her testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee, which took a lot of courage. She asks that she respect her privacy and the privacy of ‘those he cares about, including Pete. Hegseth’s former wives and children.’
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While Democrats were quick to claim that the affidavit claimed Hegseth is unfit for the role, Republicans blasted them as seeking to obstruct the confirmation process.
“They’re just being Democrats, being obstructionists,” Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, told reporters.
“They’re just trying to make sure Trump doesn’t have his administration team together. It’s not good for the American public. President Trump won the election. If he won the electoral vote for (a) significant margin, they should stop being obstructionists,” he continued.
