MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell loves spreading fake news about Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth, and on Wednesday she was at it again. Despite court testimony and NBC’s own reporting that showed that Hegseth’s ex-wife denies their reporting about Hegseth being abusive, Mitchell claimed such allegations remain “uncontested.”
At the top of her show, Mitchell reported, “Another major story that we're following today, the Senate Armed Services Committee, is considering new allegations against Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth before the full Senate votes on his confirmation. In a signed affidavit obtained by NBC News, Hegseth's former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, claiming the nominee's behavior caused his second wife, Samantha, ‘to fear for her safety.’”
It should be noted Danielle is not Samantha’s sister. Rather, she is Hegseth’s brother’s ex-wife.
Still, Mitchell added, “That was a quote, and allegedly used a code word to activate an escape plan to quote, ‘get away from Hegseth.’The affidavit was provided in response to a request by ranking Armed Services Committee member, Senator Jack Reed. Through his lawyer, Hegseth has denied he was abusive toward his ex-wife, claiming his former sister-in-law ‘has had an axe to grind against the entire Hegseth family.’ Close quote.”
As for his ex-wife, “Samantha Hegseth insists there was no physical abuse during their marriage, and both signed a 2021 court document that said neither parent claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse. Denials that do not specifically contradict the assertions in that sworn affidavit.”
If Mitchell really wants to say that Samantha’s denial of physical abuse is not a denial of emotional abuse that required the creation of an escape plan, then she needs to explain why Samantha would testify to that there was no domestic abuse because, legally speaking, emotional abuse is a form of domestic violence.
Later on, she welcomed Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly to the show, “His ex-wife said that there was, quote, “no physical abuse in their marriage.” Through his lawyer, Hegseth has denied any abuse. As a member of the committee, though that doesn't deny the specifics. In this affidavit, which stand uncontested. And I want to ask you whether, with action on the floor, perhaps after a cloture vote, which would just need a simple majority on Hegseth, you’ll think he'll still be confirmed.”
Kelly would give the standard Democratic answer on Hegseth, but Mitchell’s desperation to keep the story alive omits Samantha Hegseth telling NBC, “I do not believe your information to be accurate, and I have cc’d my lawyer.”
If the victim of this alleged abuse denies the story and testifies to that, it might be proof you are doing hatchet journalism. Thankfully, Mitchell's show will soon be coming to an end.
Here is a transcript for the January 22 show:
MSNBC Andrea Mitchell Reports
1/22/2025
12:02 PM ET
ANDREA MITCHELL: Another major story that we're following today, the Senate Armed Services Committee, is considering new allegations against Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth before the full Senate votes on his confirmation. In a signed affidavit obtained by NBC News, Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, claiming the nominee's behavior caused his second wife, Samantha, “to fear for her safety.”
That was a quote, and allegedly used a code word to activate an escape plan to quote, “get away from Hegseth.” The affidavit was provided in response to a request by ranking Armed Services Committee member, Senator Jack Reed. Through his lawyer, Hegseth has denied he was abusive toward his ex-wife, claiming his former sister-in-law “has had an axe to grind against the entire Hegseth family.” Close quote.
His ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth, insists there was no physical abuse during their marriage, and both signed a 2021 court document that said neither parent claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse. Denials that do not specifically contradict the assertions in that sworn affidavit.
…
His ex-wife said that there was, quote, “no physical abuse in their marriage.” Through his lawyer, Hegseth has denied any abuse. As a member of the committee, though that doesn't deny the specifics. In this affidavit, which stand uncontested. And I want to ask you whether, with action on the floor, perhaps after a cloture vote, which would just need a simple majority on Hegseth, you’ll think he'll still be confirmed?
