Washington (AP) As senators who would have to confirm him consider a number of accusations that have been made against him, pressure is mounting on President-elect Donald Trump to choose Pete Hegseth to head the Pentagon.
Hegseth’s mother made an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday to defend her son against a number of media-surfaced accusations of sexual misconduct, alcohol intoxication at business functions, and possible financial mismanagement.
According to a person familiar with the situation, the Trump transition team was actively considering possible replacements as they became increasingly anxious about Hegseth’s route to confirmation.
Three additional people with knowledge of the situation say that if Hegseth’s nomination does not forward, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who faced Trump in 2024 for the Republican presidential nomination, is being considered as a potential successor. They talked on condition of anonymity and were not permitted to publicly discuss internal discussions.
On Tuesday, Trump and DeSantis attended a ceremony in West Palm Beach to pay tribute to three sheriff’s deputies who had lost their lives.
The Trump transition team refrained from commenting right away.
Pennelope Hegseth, Hegseth’s mother, appeared on Fox & Friends to talk about her son and an email she sent him in 2018 that The New York Times was able to obtain. In the email, she challenged him about mistreating women after he impregnated his current wife while he was still married to his second wife.
That letter came after several claims of dubious behavior involving female employees were made public by the New Yorker this week. In 2017, Hegseth was also charged with sexual assault; however, he denied any involvement and told California police that the interaction was consensual.
In addition to being a former Fox News personality, Hegseth is a combat veteran and former Army National Guard major who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He would command a military of two million members, more than 17% of whom are women, if the Senate confirmed him. Some members of Congress have expressed worry over the revelations.
In the TV interview, Penelope Hegseth stated, “I would do anything for my son.”
During the segment, she addressed Trump directly, stating that her son has changed since seven years ago. She claimed that the reason she sent the email was because Hegseth and his ex-wife were going through a very trying and emotional divorce.
About two hours after writing the email, she stated she apologized to her son and retracted it.
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