Pete Hegseth’s mother has responded to criticism of her son, expressing regret over sending a 2018 email that further damaged his prospects of becoming Donald Trump’s defense secretary.

Last month, Trump nominated the Fox News commentator to head the Defense Department. On November 29th The New York Times published an email Penelope Hegseth sent to her son during his divorce from his second wife, Samantha Deering.

She wrote: “On behalf of all the women (and I know there are many) who have abused you in some way, I say get help and take an honest look at yourself.”

On Wednesday, Penelope Hegseth defended her son in an interview with Fox News’ Steve Doocy, saying, “Pete is a new person. He is redeemed, forgiven, changed.”

“We all believe in him. We truly believe he is not the man he was seven years ago. I am not that mother. And I hope that people will hear that story today and the truth of that story,” she said.

In the email, Penelope Hegseth also wrote: “I have no respect for a man who belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around and exploits women for his own power and ego. You are that man (and have been for years) and how.” Your mother, it hurts and embarrasses me to say this, but it’s the sad, sad truth.

When asked what inspired her to write the message, she told Fox News: “Pete and his wife were going through a very difficult divorce at the time. It was a very emotional time and I’m sure many of you across the country understand how difficult divorce is for a family.

She added that she wrote the email “in a hurry” and with “deep emotions” and “withdrew it with an apology email” about two hours later.

“Don’t think that everyone has regrets as parents,” Penelope Hegseth said when asked if she felt guilty about sending the email, which led to increased criticism of her son. “We have all made mistakes. We all. And I would challenge anyone who thinks they are qualified to cast the first stone.”

Since being named Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth has been repeatedly criticized for his lack of experience for the top Pentagon job. During his time as a Fox News contributor, he was also accused of sexual misconduct, poor leadership of two veterans organizations and binge drinking.

That scrutiny, which many believe will make his Senate confirmation an uphill battle, has escalated following the release of a sexual assault allegation against the former Fox host, stemming from an alleged incident in October 2017. Pete Hegseth has never been charged and has denied any wrongdoing.

“I don’t think any of this is true. “None of that,” Penelope Hegseth said in an interview when asked about the allegations. “I wouldn’t be sitting in this chair today if I didn’t believe that about my son.”

Newsweek has contacted the Trump-Vance transition team via email seeking comment on the nomination of Pete Hegseth.

While supporting her son, Penelope Hegseth thanked Trump for his trust in him and appealed to the members of Congress who will oversee his nomination hearings next year.

“I’m here to tell the truth – to tell the truth to the American people and to tell the truth to the senators on the Hill, especially our female senators. I really hope that you don’t listen to the media and that you will listen to Pete,” she said in the interview.

She also said she had not considered whether she would testify at a nomination hearing if asked, and criticized the media’s coverage following her son’s nomination, particularly the “threats” she made following the distribution of her son’s email received in 2018.

“That’s the first thing they do. They say, ‘Unless you make a statement, we will publish it as is,'” she said. “And I think that’s a despicable way to treat anyone. Threats are dangerous and put a strain on families.”

Regarding her son’s experience for the role of defense secretary, she said his tenure as a Fox News contributor, coupled with his military experience, made him “the man for the job.”

“I think being a TV news anchor prepares you for most things in a position like this: being a good communicator. You have to think quickly. You take responsibility. I think everyone should spend a year at Fox,” Penelope told Hegseth.

“I think he’s the man for the job,” she added. “But more than that, I think he’s the man for a time like this.”

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