The Controversy Surrounding Pete Hegseth

WASHINGTON — Pete Hegseth, recently nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to the position of defense secretary, is facing scrutiny over a payment made to a woman who accused him of sexual assault. This information was disclosed by Hegseth’s legal team.

The allegations stem from an incident in 2017, which occurred during a Republican women’s event in Monterey, California, where Hegseth was a featured speaker. According to official statements from the city, no criminal charges were filed against him.

Timothy Parlatore, representing Hegseth, told the Associated Press on Sunday that the encounter was consensual and characterized the woman who brought the allegations as the “aggressor.” However, this assertion lacks corroboration from the city’s official report.

Parlatore confirmed that a financial settlement was reached with the accuser, occurring several years after the conclusion of the police investigation. He explained that Hegseth was concerned about the possibility of a lawsuit that could threaten his position at Fox News, where he has garnered considerable popularity. The attorney did not reveal the specifics of the settlement amount.

“He was falsely accused, and my position is that he was subjected to blackmail,” Parlatore stated, framing the situation as an instance of “successful extortion.”

Read More: Pete Hegseth’s Role in Trump’s Controversial Pardons of Accused War Criminals

The Washington Post has previously reported on the payment, noting that it had received a memo sent to Trump’s transition team by a woman claiming to be a friend of the accuser, which details the allegations of sexual assault.

As of Sunday, there has been no comment from Trump’s transition team regarding the content of the memo.

The individual who reported the alleged assault, whose details remain undisclosed, informed police that they had visible bruises on their right thigh and indicated that no weapons were involved in the incident.

The alleged encounter reportedly took place between 11:59 p.m. on October 7 and 7 a.m. the following morning, as stated by city officials.

At the time, Hegseth was in Monterey to address a banquet hosted by the California Federation of Republican Women, as highlighted in promotional materials and social media from that period.

Monterey officials have withheld further details from the police report, citing that it contains law enforcement analyses and conclusions that are exempt from public disclosure under state laws.

In 2017, when the allegations surfaced, Hegseth, now 44, was in the midst of a divorce from his second wife, with whom he has three children. This divorce followed the birth of a child with a Fox News producer who later became his third wife. His first marriage ended in 2009, also reportedly due to infidelity, according to legal documents.

Following the recent revelations, Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for the Trump transition team and the designated White House communications director, issued a statement emphasizing that the President-elect is selecting highly qualified individuals for his administration.

“Mr. Hegseth has firmly denied all allegations, and no charges were filed. We look forward to his confirmation as Secretary of Defense so that he can commence his work immediately to Make America Safe and Great Again,” Cheung stated.

—This report includes contributions from Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Palm Beach, Florida.