New Developments Involving Pete Hegseth
WASHINGTON — Pete Hegseth, nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for the position of defense secretary, is facing scrutiny after it was reported that he made a payment to a woman who accused him of sexual assault, a detail revealed by his legal representation.
These allegations trace back to 2017, stemming from an event for Republican women in Monterey, California, where Hegseth was a featured speaker. The city confirmed that no criminal charges were filed against him.
Timothy Parlatore, Hegseth’s attorney, communicated with the Associated Press on Sunday, stating that the encounter was consensual and claiming that the woman who later accused him was the “aggressor.” However, this assertion has not been corroborated by the city’s official statement.
Parlatore mentioned that a financial settlement was agreed upon with the woman, occurring a few years after the police investigation was concluded. He explained that Hegseth was concerned about the possibility of her pursuing a lawsuit that could jeopardize his career at Fox News, where he had established a strong following. The attorney did not disclose the settlement figure.
“He was falsely accused, and I believe he was a victim of blackmail,” Parlatore stated, labeling the situation as a case of “successful extortion.”
Read More: Pete Hegseth’s Role in Trump’s Controversial Pardons of Accused War Criminals
The Washington Post has previously covered the financial settlement, noting that it obtained a memo sent to Trump’s transition team from a woman claiming friendship with the accuser, elaborating on the sexual assault allegations.
As of Sunday, there has been no response from Trump’s transition team regarding the memo.
The individual who reported the incident, whose identity and details remain confidential, informed authorities that they had sustained bruises on their right thigh, adding that no weapons were involved in the occurrence.
The alleged incident reportedly took place sometime between 11:59 p.m. on October 7 and 7 a.m. the following morning, as stated by the city.
At that time, Hegseth was in Monterey to speak at a banquet for the California Federation of Republican Women, as indicated by promotional materials and social media posts from that time frame.
Monterey officials have withheld further details from the police report, stating that it contains law enforcement analyses and conclusions that are exempt from release under state public records laws.
In 2017, when these allegations arose, Hegseth, now 44, was going through a divorce from his second wife with whom he shares three children. This divorce followed the birth of a child with a Fox News producer who later became his wife. His first marriage ended in 2009, also due to infidelity on his part, as noted in court documents.
Following the recent emergence of these allegations, Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump transition team and designated White House communications director, issued a statement asserting that the President-elect is selecting highly qualified individuals for his administration.
“Mr. Hegseth has firmly denied all accusations, and no charges have been filed. We look forward to his confirmation as the United States Secretary of Defense so he can commence his work on Day One to Make America Safe and Great Again,” Cheung stated.
—This report includes contributions from Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Palm Beach, Florida.
