Pete Hegseth's Mom Once Called Him an 'Abuser of Women,' Adding to His Controversies as Defense Sec Nominee

Mar. 15, 2025

Pete Hegseth.Photo:Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty

Penelope Hegseth, mother of defense secretary nomineePete Hegseth, once accused her son of engaging in a long-term pattern of mistreating women, according to an email she sent him in 2018.

“As a woman and your mother I feel I must speak out,” she wrote shortly after his contentious second divorce. “You are an abuser of women — that is the ugly truth and I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around, and uses women for his own power and ego.”

She continued, “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.”

Her message concluded: “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…”

Penelope told theTimeson Friday, Nov. 29, that just after sending the email, she sent another which apologized for speaking to him “in anger, with emotion.” In the Friday interview, she rescinded the sentiments initially expressed in the email and claimed her son was “a good father, husband.”

Pete Hegseth.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty

Pete’s conduct with women has been a point of public contention since November, when he was announced as President-electDonald Trump’s surprise nominee to lead the Pentagon.

One day after the former Fox News host’s nomination, a police report surfaced revealing that Pete wasaccused of rape in 2017. Though he was never charged, heentered into an agreementwith his accuser that included a confidentiality clause and monetary payment.

In addition to allegations that he has abused women and scrutiny over his qualifications for a top spot in Trump’s Cabinet, Pete has faced new claims regarding his alleged lack of professionalism in the past.

The New Yorkerreported on Dec. 1 that he was allegedly ousted from previous nonprofit leadership positions due to funds mismanagement, repeated drunkenness and creating an uncomfortable environment for women.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Former colleagues claimed that Pete wasconsistently intoxicatedat organization events, to the point where he had to be forcibly removed. “I’ve seen him dragged away not a few times but multiple times,” one former colleague at CVA toldThe New Yorker. “To have him at the Pentagon would be scary.”

The magazine also saw an email that a CVA employee once wrote to Pete’s successor, claiming that Pete “treated the organization funds like they were a personal expense account — for partying, drinking, and using CVA events as little more than opportunities to ‘hook up’ with women on the road.”

source: people.com