Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's defense secretary nominee, made his second wife, Samantha Hegseth, "fear for her safety," according to an affidavit released Tuesday.
NBC News revealed that the allegations were made in an affidavit received by senators on Tuesday. Pete Hegseth's former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, came forward after Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) requested "a statement attesting to your personal knowledge about Mr. Hegseth's fitness to occupy this important position."
NBC said the affidavit described "volatile and threatening conduct by Hegseth."
Reed responded to the affidavit in a statement.
"As I have said for months, the reports of Mr. Hegseth's history of alleged sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and public misconduct necessitate an exhaustive background investigation. I have been concerned that the background check process has been inadequate, and this sworn affidavit confirms that fact," the senator remarked, adding, "The alleged pattern of abuse and misconduct by Mr. Hegseth is disturbing. This behavior would disqualify any service member from holding any leadership position in the military, much less being confirmed as the Secretary of Defense."
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In a redacted copy of the affidavit obtained by NBC, Danielle Hegseth said she chose to come forward "at significant personal sacrifice, because I am deeply concerned by what Hegseth's confirmation would mean for our military and our country."
In part, she said the allegations were made public "because I have been assured that making this public statement will ensure that certain Senators who are still on the fence will vote against Hegseth's confirmation. But for that assurance I would not subject myself or others referred to in this statement to the public scrutiny this statement is likely to cause."
However, Samantha Hegseth refused to confirm the statements.
"There was no physical abuse in my marriage. 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," the nominee's former wife said.
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Tim Parlatore, a lawyer for Pete Hegseth, suggested that the allegations were smears.
"Sam 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," he said in a statement. "Belated claims by Danielle Dietrich, an anti-Trump far left Democrat who is divorced from Mr. Hegseth's brother and never got along with the Hegseth family, do nothing to change that."