CBS EVENING NEWS
1/21/25
6:38 PM
NORAH O’DONNELL: There are disturbing new allegations against Pete Hegseth, Trump's embattled nominee for Defense Secretary. We have details now from CBS's Nikole Killion.
NIKOLE KILLION: Pete Hegseth's former sister-in-law Danielle Hegseth alleges the Defense Secretary nominee was abusive toward his second wife, Samantha. In a sworn affidavit provided to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Danielle Hegseth claims Samantha told her she once hid in a closet for fear of her safety.
TAMMY DUCKWORTH: Would you like a copy of it?
KILLION: Democrats who reviewed the statement were outraged.
ELIZABETH WARREN: What I read in that affidavit reinforces the idea that not only is Pete Hegseth not qualified to be Secretary of Defense, he is truly a danger.
KILLION: Danielle Hegseth, who was married to Hegseth's brother, also alleges Samantha had a plan to get away from Hegseth, by texting a safe word to her if she needed help. During his confirmation hearing, Hegseth denied any allegations of violence toward his former wives.
TIM KAINE: Did you ever engage in any acts of physical violence against any of your ives?
PETE HEGSETH: Senator, absolutely not.
KILLION: To be confirmed, Hegseth can only afford to lose three Republican votes. Some, including Maine’s Susan Collins, are still deliberating.
SUSAN COLLINS: I had told you earlier that I was undecided.
KILLION: In a statement to CBS News, an attorney for Pete Hegseth said that his ex-wife Samantha never alleged any abuse in court documents or to the FBI, and he called Danielle Hegseth’s claims “blatant” and “false”. Norah.
O’DONNELL: Nikole Killion. Thank you very much.