Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., told Newsmax on Wednesday that NBC News is engaging in “character assassination” by running a story about Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth that his ex-wife has denied.

Senators vetting the nomination of Pete Hegseth for defense secretary received an affidavit Tuesday from a former sister-in-law alleging that the onetime Fox News host was abusive to his second wife, to the point where she feared for her safety. Hegseth denies the allegations.

The sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, was formerly married to the nominee’s brother.

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