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By Hugh Cameron
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Pete Hegseth's mother has responded to criticisms of her son and expressed regret over sending a 2018 email that has further marred his prospects of becoming Donald Trump's secretary of defense.
Last month, Trump nominated the Fox News commentator to lead the Department of Defense. On November 29, The New York Times published an email Penelope Hegseth sent to her son amid his divorce from his second wife, Samantha Deering.
She wrote, "On behalf of all the women (and I know it's many) you have abused in some way, I say...get some help and take an honest look at yourself."
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On Wednesday, in an interview with Fox News' Steve Doocy, Penelope Hegseth defended her son, saying, "Pete is a new person. He's redeemed, forgiven, changed."
"We all believe in him. We really believe that he is not that man he was seven years ago. I am not that mother. And I hope people will hear that story today and the truth of that story," she said.
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In the email, Penelope Hegseth also wrote: "I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around, and uses women for his own power and ego. You are that man (and have been for years) and as your mother, it pains me and embarrasses me to say that, but it is the sad, sad truth."
When asked what inspired her to write the message, she told Fox News: "Pete and his wife at the time were going through a very difficult divorce. It was a very emotional time, and I'm sure many of you across the country understand how difficult divorce is on a family."
She added that she had written the email "in haste" and with "deep emotions" and had "retracted it with an apology email" about two hours later.
"Don't you think everyone has regrets as a parent," Penelope Hegseth said when asked if she felt guilt over sending the email, which has led to increased criticism of her son. "We've all made mistakes. We've all. And I would challenge anyone who thinks they're qualified to throw the first stone."
Since being named Trump's nominee for secretary of defense, numerous criticisms have been leveled against Pete Hegseth regarding his lack of experience for the Pentagon's top job. He has also faced allegations of sexual misconduct, mismanaging two veterans organizations and binge drinking during his time as a Fox News contributor.
This scrutiny, which many believe will make his Senate confirmation an uphill battle, has escalated following the publication of a sexual assault accusation against the former Fox host that stemmed from an alleged incident in October 2017. Pete Hegseth was never charged and has denied any wrongdoing.
"I don't believe any of that is true. Any of it," Penelope Hegseth said in the interview when asked about the allegations. "I wouldn't be sitting in this chair today if I didn't believe that about my son."
Newsweek has contacted the Trump-Vance transition team via email for comment on Pete Hegseth's nomination.
While supporting her son, Penelope Hegseth thanked Trump for believing in him and appealed to the members of Congress who will oversee his nomination hearing next year.
"I am here to tell the truth—to tell the truth to the American people and to tell the truth to the senators on the Hill, especially our female senators. I really hope that you will not listen to the media and that you will listen to Pete," she said in the interview.
She also said she had not considered whether she would testify at a nomination hearing if asked and criticized the media's reporting following her son's nomination, in particular the "threats" she received after the 2018 email leaked.
"That's the first thing they do. They say, 'Unless you make a statement, we will publish it as is,'" she said. "And I think that is a despicable way to treat anyone. Threats are dangerous, and they're hard on families."
Regarding her son's experience for the role of defense secretary, she said his tenure as a Fox News contributor, coupled with his military experience, had made him "the man for the job."
"I think being a TV news host prepares you for most things in a position like this: You're a good communicator. You have to think on your feet. You take charge. I think everybody should do a year with Fox," Penelope Hegseth said.
"I believe he's the man for the job," she added. "But more than that, I believe he's the man for such a time as this."
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