Peggy Hesgeth wrote a scathing email to her son in 2018 that was just published by The New York Times. Don’t expect her to stick to these comments if she’s asked to testify at her confirmation hearing.

There was already a long list of reasons why Hegseth should never be confirmed as Secretary of Defense, since allegations of sexual assaultto the probability that it will fail an FBI background checkto the fact that he is completely unqualified for the position, to his own colleagues throw him under the bus on the rape allegations.

And now we have a new one to add to the list… his own mother, who accused Hegseth of “mistreating women for years”.

The mother of Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice for secretary of defense, wrote him an email in 2018 saying he had routinely mistreated women for years and demonstrated a lack of character.

“On behalf of all the women (and I know there are many) who you have abused in one way or another, I say… seek help and take an honest look at yourself,” wrote Penelope Hegseth, declaring that she still loved him.

She also wrote: “I have no respect for any man who belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps with and uses women for his own power and ego. You are that man (and have been for years) and as a mother, it hurts and embarrasses me to say this, but it’s the sad, sad truth.

The New York Times contacted Hegseth, and of course, she tried to walk back what she had written, claiming that “she sent her son an immediate follow-up email at the time to apologize for what she had written.

I don’t believe it for a single minute, and if you read the full text of the emailnor do I think anyone with an ounce of common sense would believe it.

Son,

I’ve tried to stay silent about your character and behavior, but after listening to how you made Samantha feel today, I can’t stay silent. And as a woman and a mother, I feel like I need to speak out.

You are an abuser of women – that’s the ugly truth and I have no respect for any man who belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps with and uses women for his own power and ego. You are that man (and have been for years) and as a mother, it hurts and embarrasses me to say this, but it’s the sad, sad truth.

I’m not a saint, far from it… so don’t throw that in my face. but your abuse of women over the years (dishonesty, sleeping around, betrayal, degradation, belittling) must be denounced.

Sam is a good mother and a good person (under the circumstances you created) and I know deep down you know that. Trying to label her as “unstable” for your own benefit is despicable and abusive. Is there any sense of decency left in you? She neither asked nor deserved anything that came to her from your hand. Neither does Meredith.

I know you think this is a big competition and we’ve taken his side…sleeper…we’re on the side of good and it’s not you. (Go ahead and call me self-righteous, I don’t care.)

Don’t you dare run to her and scream about the scandal we shared with us…that’s what babies do. It’s time someone (I wish it was a strong man) stood up and called out your abusive behavior, especially towards women.

We still love you, but we are broken by your behavior and lack of character. I don’t want to write emails like this and I never thought I would. If this further harms our relationship then so be it, but at least I’ve said my side. (Redacted)

And yes, we pray for you (and you don’t deserve to know how we pray, so avoid the sarcastic response)

I don’t want an answer to that…I don’t want to argue with you. Either way, you are distorting and misusing everything I say. But… On behalf of all the women (and I know there are many) who you have abused in one way or another, I say… seek help and take an honest look at yourself…

Mom

She went on Fox a year later, for Mother’s Day, and doted on her son, who you can watch in the clip above.

I wonder how bad things will get for Hegseth before he retires.

If his mother is called to testify, I don’t expect her to throw her son under the bus, but just reading what she wrote in 2018 about him will be damning enough in itself. I’ll take out the popcorn and watch her writhe trying to explain it.