SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — A woman has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Pete Hegseth in 2017, claiming he took her phone, blocked the door of a hotel room, and did not allow her to leave, according to a comprehensive investigative report released on Wednesday. The report provides intricate details of the allegations which Hegseth, a prominent figure at Fox News and a nominee for defense secretary under President Donald Trump, has contested by asserting the encounter was consensual.
The allegations against Hegseth came to light last week when local officials confirmed that a woman had reported him for sexual assault, which claimed to have occurred in October 2017 following his speech at a Republican women’s function in Monterey. Hegseth’s attorney has indicated that a payment was made to the woman in 2023 to avoid what was described as a baseless lawsuit.
A detailed 22-page police report emerged in response to a public records request, providing a clearer picture of the events surrounding the incident. The report presents statements from various involved parties, including the alleged victim, a medical professional who treated her, hotel personnel, another attendee at the event, and Hegseth himself. Although the identity of the woman is not disclosed, it is customary not to name those who allege sexual assault.
A spokesperson for Trump’s transition team noted that the report supports the claims made by Hegseth’s legal team that the incident had undergone a thorough investigation, leading to no charges being filed as authorities deemed the allegations unfounded. However, it is important to clarify that the report does not state that law enforcement concluded the claims were false; instead, they recommended sending the case to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office for further assessment.
The investigation was initially prompted by a nurse who contacted police after a patient sought a sexual assault examination. This individual indicated to the medical staff that she suspected she had been assaulted five days prior, although she could recall few details about the incident, suggesting that her drink may have been tampered with before she ended up in the hotel room where the alleged assault supposedly occurred.
Evidence collected by law enforcement included the victim’s unwashed dress and underwear worn on the night of the alleged incident. The woman’s partner, who was staying in the hotel with her, expressed concern when she did not return to their room. At approximately 2 a.m., he ventured to the hotel bar but did not find her there. She later returned home a few hours later, apologizing and claiming she might have fallen asleep. It was only days later that she confided to him about the sexual assault.
The woman, who played a role in organizing the gathering with the California Federation of Republican Women, reported to authorities that she had seen Hegseth behaving inappropriately during the event, describing him as “creepy” in a text message to a friend. After the formal event concluded, she attended an afterparty in a hotel suite where she confronted Hegseth, expressing her discontent with his treatment of women.
Shortly thereafter, a group including Hegseth and the woman moved to the hotel’s bar, where her memory of the events became unclear. She recollected sharing a drink with Hegseth and others, and noted that she had a disagreement with him near the hotel pool, which was corroborated by a hotel worker who was alerted to manage a disturbance.
According to her account, she found herself in a hotel room with Hegseth, who allegedly took her phone and physically blocked the door to prevent her from leaving. The report indicated she repeatedly expressed her lack of consent. Her next memory was of being on a couch or bed with Hegseth, who was bare-chested and was said to have asked if she was “OK” after the encounter.
At the time of this alleged incident in 2017, Hegseth, now 44, was facing a divorce from his second wife and had recently welcomed a child with a Fox News producer, who is currently his spouse. Hegseth’s first marriage also ended due to infidelity, according to court documents and public statements.
Hegseth acknowledged that he attended the afterparty and consumed beer, claiming he was “buzzed” but not inebriated. He stated that when he met the woman at the bar, she led him to his hotel room, which he found unexpected, insisting that he had no initial intentions of engaging in sexual activity. He maintained that their encounter was consensual and claimed to have checked on her comfort multiple times during their interaction.
His attorney mentioned that Hegseth made a financial settlement to the woman as part of a confidential agreement years after the police investigation, citing concerns that she was preparing to file a lawsuit that may jeopardize his position at Fox News, where he had established a significant following. However, the attorney did not disclose the specifics regarding the amount involved in the settlement.
