Pete Hegseth’s Ex-Wife Told FBI of More Drinking Claims
Samantha Hegseth commented on her ex-husband’s alcohol use to investigators before his approval by the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Pete Hegseth’s ex-wife gave a new statement to the FBI about the former Fox News host’s drinking habits, according to a report.
Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of defense, has faced several allegations of alcohol abuse, despite the former cable news personality’s strong denials.
Samantha Hegseth, the nominee’s ex-wife, reportedly commented on his drinking when interviewed by the FBI recently, CNN reported on Wednesday.
According to a pair of anonymous sources who spoke with the network, Hegseth’s ex-wife told the FBI that her ex-husband “drinks more often than he doesn’t.”
In December 2017 Pete Hegseth was photographed clearly drunk at a colleague’s wedding (left). He still managed to host FOX & Friends Weekend the following morning, on Dec. 2, 2017 (right).
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Obtained by The Daily Beast/Fox News
Ranking members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, including Chairman Roger Wicker and the ranking Democratic member Jack Reed, were briefed on Samantha Hegseth’s statement on Jan. 16—two days after his confirmation hearing before the entire committee. They were previously given a briefing on Hegseth that did not include the statement from his ex-wife.
Hegseth’s nomination was approved by the committee along party lines on Monday, and will now face a confirmation vote in front of the full chamber.
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The allegations against Hegseth came first in an explosive report published in The New Yorker, which included claims that he participated in excessive drinking and financial mismanagement while he worked for multiple veterans advocacy organizations.
Following that story, a number of Hegseth’s colleagues at Fox News went public with their own concerns about his drinking habits in interviews with NBC News.
Samantha’s sister (and Hegseth’s former sister-in-law) then went public with more abuse allegations against the nominee earlier this week, detailing them in a sworn affidavit submitted to the Senate.
However, Samantha strongly denied her sister’s testimony, stating to NBC News: “There was no physical abuse in my marriage.”
Hegseth has repeatedly denied all allegations of excessive drinking, and an attorney for the former Fox News host said there was “nothing new” in the latest round of allegations.
The former Fox News personality has also promised not to drink while serving at the Pentagon.
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