WASHINGTON — Pete Hegseth, who has been selected by President-elect Donald Trump to take on the role of defense secretary, reportedly made a financial settlement with a woman who accused him of sexual assault in order to prevent potential legal action, as stated by Hegseth’s attorney.
The allegations against Hegseth, dating back to 2017, emerged following his participation in a Republican women’s event in Monterey, California. Official records indicate that no criminal charges were brought against him in this matter.
Tim Parlatore, Hegseth’s attorney, asserted on Sunday that the encounter was consensual, arguing that the woman who leveled the accusation was actually the “aggressor.” However, this claim has not received confirmation from the city’s released statements.
According to Parlatore, the payment to the woman was part of a confidential settlement reached a few years after a police investigation concluded, with Hegseth believing that the potential lawsuit could have jeopardized his position at Fox News, where he was a prominent figure. The lawyer did not disclose the sum involved in the settlement.
Parlatore maintained that Hegseth was a victim of blackmail in this instance, labeling the situation as one of “successful extortion.” Details about the payment were first reported by The Washington Post, which also noted it obtained a memo sent to Trump’s transition team by a friend of the accuser, outlining the allegations made against Hegseth.
The Trump transition team has not provided an immediate response regarding the memo that surfaced over the weekend.
According to the city’s statement, the individual who reported the alleged assault had visible bruising on the right thigh. It was indicated that there were no weapons involved during the incident.
The reported timeframe for the occurrence spans from 11:59 p.m. on October 7 to around 7 a.m. the next day, as per the city’s information. Hegseth was attending a banquet for the California Federation of Republican Women at the time, as corroborated by promotional materials and social media from that period.
Officials in Monterey have opted not to release additional details contained in the police report, citing that the document includes analyses and conclusions from law enforcement that are protected under state public records laws.
When the allegations emerged in 2017, Hegseth, who is currently 44 years old, was in the process of divorcing his second wife, with whom he shares three children. His former spouse filed for divorce after Hegseth fathered a child with a Fox News producer, who later became his wife. His first marriage ended in 2009, also amid allegations of infidelity.
Following the resurfacing of the allegations, Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, issued a statement underscoring the president-elect’s commitment to appointing high-quality candidates to his administration.
“Mr. Hegseth has firmly denied all accusations, with no formal charges being filed. We are eager for his confirmation as the United States Secretary of Defense, so he can begin working from Day One to ensure America’s safety and greatness,” Cheung commented.