FOREST LAKE, Minn. – Prospects for Minnesota-reared Pete Hegseth as U.S. Defense secretary dimmed further. In 2018, it was revealed, Hegseth’s own mother called him out for routinely abusing women and lacking character. She described his abusive behavior over the years as “dishonesty, sleeping around, betrayal, debasing, belittling.” The mother’s harsh words were in a lengthy email to Hegseth during a brutal divorce from his second wife. The email fell into the hands of the New York Times, which published it verbatim. Before doing so, the Times asked the mother, Penny Hegseth, if the email were true. She confirmed she wrote the message but said she came to regret it and apologized.
Residual doubts on Trump vetting
The email was the latest in deepening doubts about Hegseth’s suitability. It also posed further questions about the wisdom of President-elect Donald Trump in choosing Hegseth for the incredibly complex job of running the 2.5-million-person U.S. war machine and its $820 billion global budget. The Hegseth issue suddenly became latest evidence of Trump sloppiness in vetting cabinet appointees. Already Trump’s choice to be U.S. attorney general, Matt Gaetz, has had to withdraw amid allegations of womanizing and engaging in white-slave trade with an underage girl. Some other Trump nominees also are in trouble with the U.S. Senate, whose approval is required by the U.S. Constitution.
Mother. Penny Hegseth, a professional image-groomer for business executives. From northeast St. Paul suburb of Forest Lake.
Verbatim
Penelope Hegseth, in the 2018 email to her son: “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.” “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.”
Referring to Hegseth’s second wife: “For you to try to label her as ‘unstable’ for your own advantage is despicable and abusive. Is there any sense of decency left in you? She did not ask for or deserve any of what has come to her by your hand. Neither did Meredith (his first wife, a high school sweetheart).”
“Son, I have tried to keep quiet about your character and behavior, but after listening to the way you made Samantha feel today, I cannot stay silent. Sam is a good mother and a good person.”
The mother said she realized that Hegseth felt that she (and apparently also his faher) had sided against him but that such was bunk: “We are on the side of good and that is not you. It’s time for someone (I wish it was a strong man) to stand up to your abusive behavior and call it out, especially against women.’
“We still love you, but we are broken by your behavior and lack of character.” If the email “damages our relationship further, so be it.” She also told her son that there was no need to replay because “you twist and abuse everything I say anyway.”