Senators receive fresh allegations about defence pick Pete Hegseth

The ex-sister-in-law of Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's pick to lead the US military, has accused him of alcohol and spousal abuse in a sworn affidavit to a US congressional committee.

Danielle Dietrich Hegseth provided a written statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee that she had "personally observed Hegseth's erratic and aggressive behavior over many years."

She was married to Pete Hegseth's brother, Nathaniel Hegseth, from 2011-2019; the couple separated in 2018.

In a statement to CBS News, BBC's news partner, Tim Parlatore, Pete Hegseth's lawyer, denied Danielle Hegseth's allegations and referred to her as "an anti-Trump far left Democrat" who did not get along with the family.

Ms Hegseth states that her affidavit comes in response to a request and letter from US Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Armed Services committee.

She also said she provided the testimony because "it is my personal opinion that Hegseth is unfit for the position of Secretary of Defense."

She claims she "personally witnessed Hegseth abusing alcohol numerous times over the years", but notes that she "did not personally witness physical or sexual abuse by Hegseth."

In the affidavit, obtained by the BBC, Ms Hegseth testifies that Pete Hegseth's ex-wife Samantha "told me that she once hid in her closet from Hegseth because she feared for her personal safety."

The incident occurred in the couple's home sometime between 2014-2016, according to the affidavit.

Samantha Hegseth was Pete Hegseth's second wife, and they share custody of three children.

Danielle Hegseth alleged that she was aware Samantha Hegseth "had a plan to deploy if she felt she needed to get away from" her then-husband, and had once texted her a safe word that would signal a call for help.

Danielle Hegseth said that she initially provided these details to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In a statement on Tuesday to NBC News, Samantha Hegseth denounced the allegations from her former sister-in-law, telling the US broadcaster, "I do not believe your information to be accurate."

"There was no physical abuse in my marriage," she told NBC News, adding that she would not be speaking further about her marriage to Pete Hegseth.

Pete Hegseth's lawyer, Mr Parlatore, said that Samantha Hegseth "has never alleged that there was any abuse, she signed court documents acknowledging that there was no abuse and recently reaffirmed the same during her FBI interview".

The affidavit adds to a list of abuse allegations against Hegseth that have surfaced during his confirmation process.

Pete Hegseth is Trump's pick for defence secretary, and he answered questions at a long - and at times tense - hearing before the committee last week. His nomination moved forward out of committee Monday and will soon go before the full Senate.

In 2017, he was investigated for allegations of sexual assault stemming from an alleged incident in California, but authorities did not arrest him or charge him with any crimes. Hegseth ultimately paid his accuser to remain silent in order to prevent the loss of his then-job at Fox News, his lawyer confirmed to CBS News.

Hegseth has forcefully denied these allegations as well, including at his US Senate confirmation hearing.

"The alleged pattern of abuse and misconduct by Mr. Hegseth is disturbing," Reed said in a statement on Tuesday. "This behaviour would disqualify any service member from holding any leadership position in the military, much less being confirmed as the Secretary of Defence."

Reed also called Hegseth's background check process "inadequate."

According to the New York Times, a 2021 order from a Minnesota judge said neither Samantha nor Pete Hegseth claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse. The judge wrote that there was no determination, or probable cause, that one parent had been "physically abused or threatened with physical abuse" by the other.

Though Hegseth was initially met with scepticism by some Senate Republicans, Trump and his allies have waged an aggressive campaign to push his nomination through.