Pete Hegseth’s second ex-wife is prevented from speaking ill of Donald Trump’s scandal-plagued nominee for defense secretary due to a non-disparagement clause in their divorce proceedings, according to an MSNBC report.
On The Rachel Maddow Show, MSNBC legal correspondent Lisa Rubin revealed the 2018 document signed by Pete and Samantha Hegseth. The relevant clause reads:
“Both parties agree to not say anything negative about the other parent to or in front of the children or allow third parties within their control to do so. In addition, both parties will refrain from engaging themselves in any public discourse, including through either traditional media or social media, disparaging the other party and will take reasonable steps to encourage friends and family to refrain from doing so.”
Samantha Hegseth has denied parts of former sister-in-law Danielle’s allegations about the former Fox News host, saying there was no physical abuse during her marriage.
She did not deny allegations that she feared for her safety or that she had a code word to send when she felt threatened—claims that surfaced Wednesday as part of an affidavit filed by his former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth.
“There was no physical abuse in my marriage,” Samantha Hegseth told NBC News. “This is the only further statement I will make to you, I have let you know that I am not speaking and will not speak on my marriage to Pete. Please respect this decision.”
Pete Hegseth faces several allegations of alcohol abuse—something that Samantha Hegseth could shed light on.
But as Rubin put it, she “has her hands tied.”
“She is precluded legally from saying something that could be construed by Pete Hegseth and his legal representatives to be damaging to him,” Rubin told Maddow.
Pete Hegseth’s lawyer, Tim Parlatore, told MSNBC in a statement that the 2018 document is a “limited non-disparagement agreement,” and not a non-disclosure agreement.
“These are two legally distinct concepts and there is nothing inappropriate or inaccurate about Mr. Hegseth’s answers to the committee,” Parlatore added. “It takes some significant imagination and intellectual dishonesty for anyone to consider this to bear on the credibility of his testimony.”
Still, Sen. Tim Kaine said in a statement to the network that he believed that “that clause in a divorce settlement could expose some to severe consequences for sharing unflattering information about an ex-partner, even if it’s true.”
Hegseth’s confirmation vote is expected to take place Friday.
