Affidavit Accuses Hegseth of Abusive Behavior Toward Ex-Wife

Pete Hegseth, President Trump's nominee for defense secretary, faces allegations of abusive behavior towards his second wife, Samantha, contained in a sworn affidavit from his former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth. The affidavit claims that Samantha had a safe word to signal danger and that Danielle witnessed Hegseth's excessive drinking at family gatherings, although she did not personally witness physical abuse. In a statement, Samantha Hegseth denied any claims of physical abuse in their marriage. The allegations became public shortly after Hegseth's confirmation hearing, prompting calls for a thorough investigation from some Senate members. Hegseth's attorney dismissed the claims, asserting that Samantha has never alleged abuse and previously affirmed this during her FBI interview. The political background of Danielle Hegseth's representation has also raised questions about potential motivations behind the affidavit.