Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, is fighting new allegations that his ex-wife feared for her safety because of his erratic behavior.
It is the latest in a series of allegations of misconduct against Hegseth, who is poised to be confirmed with a Senate vote this week.
The new claims threaten to derail the nominee’s support, as some Republicans have expressed reservations about the former Fox News host’s qualifications.
Danielle Hegseth’s impressive testimony was obtained Tuesday by the Senate Armed Services Committee, NBC News first reported.
Danielle writes in an affidavit that Samantha Hegseth, Pete Hegseth’s husband from 2010 – 2017, feared for her safety due to her then-husband’s erratic behavior.
She cites private conversations the two had at the time as the basis for her claims, saying Samantha revealed Pete had been exhibiting “erratic and aggressive behavior” for years.
“Samantha also told me that she once hid in her closet from Hegseth because she feared for her personal safety,” another part of the statement read, according to PunchBowl News.
Pete and his ex-wife Samantha Hegseth

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to become Secretary of Defense, poses for a photo with Cabinet picks, other nominees and appointments at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. New allegations against Hegseth surfaced on Tuesday

Pete Hegseth and his wife Jennifer Rauchet
Hegseth has been plagued by allegations of sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse during his confirmation process. He admits he is not a “perfect person” but denies any wrongdoing.
An email from Hegseth’s mother even surfaced in which she wrote how his treatment of women upset her, although she later admitted it was wrong of her to send the fiery email.
But Samantha Hegseth poured cold water on the new claims, telling NBC News of the accusations: “I do not believe your information is accurate, and I have cc’d my attorney.”
‘There was no physical abuse in my marriage. This is the only further statement I will make to you. I have informed you that I do not and will not speak about my marriage to Pete. Please respect this decision.”
Hegseth’s lawyer, Tim Parlatore, has denied that the nominee did anything wrong.
‘Sam never alleged that there was any abuse. She signed court documents acknowledging there was no abuse and recently reaffirmed this during her FBI interview,” Parlatore said in a statement.
“Late claims by Danielle Dietrich, a far-left anti-Trump Democrat who is divorced from Mr. Hegseth’s brother and never got along with the Hegseth family, cannot change that.”
“After a bitter divorce, Mrs. Dietrich has taken a heavy toll on the entire Hegseth family,” the statement continued. ‘Madam. Dietrich admits she saw nothing, but now falsely accuses Sam of lying to both the Court and the FBI over undocumented private statements she allegedly made a decade ago.”

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be Secretary of Defense, hugs his wife Jennifer Rauche during the completion of a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, January 14, 2025
The top Democrat on the panel, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., sent a letter Jan. 18 to Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, requesting “a statement confirming your personal knowledge of Mr. Hegseth’s condition.” to take this important position.’
Danielle Hegseth, who wrote in response to Reed’s letter: “I have chosen to come forward publicly, at significant personal sacrifice, because I have serious concerns about what Hegseth’s appointment would mean for our military and our country .’
“I am confident that making this public statement will cause certain senators who are still undecided to vote against Hegseth’s confirmation,” she continued, according to a copy of the affidavit reviewed by NBC.
The new claims against Hegseth come just before he is expected to receive a confirmation vote from all 100 members of the Senate.
He needs 51 positive votes to be officially confirmed in the Pentagon’s top spot.

US President Donald Trump is interviewed by Fox and Friends co-host Pete Hegseth at the White House in Washington, US, April 6, 2017

Hegseth needs 51 senators to vote for his nomination as defense secretary
Republicans currently hold a 51-47 majority in the House, meaning if one Republican lawmaker votes against Hegseth, his chances are gone.
Still, there are two vacant seats in the Senate that will soon be filled by Republicans after Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio left the chamber to join the Trump administration.
Former Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has been selected to fill Rubio’s seat, while former Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted will fill Vance’s seat.