Pete Hegseth's mother, Penelope, sent an email in 2018 accusing him of mistreating women for years, detailing behaviors such as belittling, lying, cheating, and using women for personal gain. She later retracted these statements in a phone interview with the New York Times, claiming the email was written in anger during a difficult time in her son's life.
In a subsequent interview, Mrs. Hegseth defended her son, claiming her earlier accusations were untrue and stating that he is a good father and husband. She expressed regret for sending the original email and denounced its publication as "disgusting."
The email's contents and Mrs. Hegseth's conflicting statements are expected to come under scrutiny during the Senate confirmation hearings for Hegseth's nomination as Secretary of Defense. This issue poses a significant challenge to his appointment.