Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Pete Hegseth’s nomination to be Secretary of Defense in Donald Trump’s new administration has been mired in controversy since he was first named. The former Fox and Friends cohost has been dogged by reports of excessive drinking, financial mismanagement and an allegation of sexual assault, all claims that Hegseth has denounced as “anonymous smears.” Hegseth appeared to clear his most difficult hurdle last week, gliding through his confirmation hearing bolstered by praise from the Republicans whose votes he’s been courting. But new reports on Hegseth’s behavior from members of his own family have emerged just as the Senate is preparing for a crucial vote to advance his nomination. Here’s what we know so far.
What are the latest reports?
On Tuesday, NBC News reported that the Senate had received a sworn affidavit from Danielle Hegseth, his former sister-in-law, detailing new allegations of Hegseth’s troubling behavior. Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, the ranking member on the Senate Armed Forces Committee, confirmed in a statement that the affidavit was received and that it spoke of incidents of “alcohol abuse, threatening and abusive behavior toward his second wife, and repeated pattern of offensive public misconduct.” Though he did not mention Danielle Hegseth by name, Reed said that she was interviewed by the FBI in December and that her testimony was not included in the final background check provided to the committee by the Trump transition team.
“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 affidavit confirms that fact,” Reed said.
The affidavit alleges that Hegseth abused alcohol regularly and was often so drunk that he “passed out, threw up, and had to be carried out of family events and public settings, sometimes shouting sexually and racially offensive statements.” It also claims that Hegseth engaged in threatening behavior towards his second wife Samantha Hegseth to the point that she devised an escape plan that involved texting a safe word to friends and family in case she needed assistance. NBC News notes that Samantha Hegseth denied that there was any physical abuse in her marriage in a statement to the outlet.
CNN reported Wednesday that Samantha Hegseth had recently provided a new statement to the FBI following her ex-husband’s confirmation hearing. According to a source familiar, she reportedly told the agency about Hegseth’s alcohol use, “He drinks more often than he doesn’t.”
What has the reaction been?
It’s not clear that the newest reports have swayed many of the Senate Republicans whose support will be crucial to Hegseth’s nomination being confirmed. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, a combat veteran who is seen as a pivotal vote, indicated that her support for Hegseth hasn’t wavered in light of the latest allegations. “His ex-wife has denied it. So it really doesn’t go very far,” she said, per HuffPost. “It carries no weight.”
Maine Senator Susan Collins, who has a history of bucking her party in some key votes, expressed concerns that Hegseth’s background check might’ve omitted important details. “I’ve heard from others that pertinent information has not been included, and that is troubling,” Collins told reporters, per The Hill. “When you’re making a decision about a nominee, you want to have as complete a picture as possible.”
Will Hegseth be confirmed?
On Thursday, the Senate is expected to vote on whether to advance Hegseth’s nomination to a full vote which would likely be held on Friday. With Republicans holding onto a slim margin of control in the chamber, they can only afford to lose three votes if all the Democrats oppose Hegseth. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski has yet to express her support for Hegseth and told CNN that she has “concerns” with his nomination. Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, the former Republican Senate leader, has been similarly tight-lipped on whether he’ll back Trump’s nominee.
Two previous hold-outs, Senators Todd Young of Indiana and John Curtis of Utah, have since indicated their plans to vote for Hegseth, making his confirmation increasingly likely barring any last-minute surprises.
