By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-15 14:59:12 | Updated at 2024-11-15 17:38:49
2 hours ago
Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, was investigated for an alleged sexual assault in 2017 but no charges were filed.
The alleged incident took place in the early morning hours of October 8, 2017, at the address of the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa in Monterey, California, the city said in a statement.
The police department investigated 'an alleged sexual assault' involving Hegseth, a Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran, that was reported four days later, according to the statement.
The victim's name and age are confidential.
No weapons were involved, according to the statement, but there were injuries – 'contusions to right thigh.'
No further details were released and the city said it would not release the full police report, noting it was exempt from public disclosure. The statement did not say what happened to the investigation.
Hegseth, who was divorced from his second wife at the time of the alleged incident, has not been charged in any criminal case or named as a defendant in any civil lawsuit.
Timothy Parlatore, a lawyer representing Hegseth, told news outlets: 'This statement confirms that although an allegation was made, it was fully investigated and no charges were filed.'
Pete Hegseth (left) is a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan; he's a co-host of 'Fox & Friends Weekends' with Ainsely Earnhardt and Brian Kilmeade
The Trump transition team was aware of the allegation.
Incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles was briefed Wednesday night about it, Vanity Fair reported.
Wiles and Trump's lawyers spoke to Hegseth about it on Thursday. Hegseth told them the allegation stemmed from a consensual encounter and called it a 'he-said, she-said' situation, a source told Vanity Fair.
Hegseth was a speaker at the California Federation of Republican Women conference at the Monterey hotel when the encounter that led to the investigation occurred.
The Trump team is standing by their nominee.
'Mr. Hegseth has vigorously denied any and all accusations, and no charges were filed,' said Trump communications director Steven Cheung. 'We look forward to his confirmation as United States Secretary of Defense so he can get started on Day One to Make America Safe and Great Again.'
Hegseth's nomination to lead the Pentagon is controversial.
He is a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan with a handful of military medals, including two Bronze Stars.
But many have questioned whether the 44-year-old co-host of 'Fox & Friends Weekends' can handle managing the Defense Department, which has a budget of $842 billion, almost 3 million employees and 750 military installations around the world.
He also has a history of controversial statements.
Hegseth once called liberals 'domestic enemies.'
And he has said women should not be in combat for the U.S. military, a point he has made repeatedly including last week in an interview with 'The Shawn Ryan Show' podcast.
'I'm straight up just saying, we should not have women in combat roles,' Hegseth said on that podcast. 'It hasn't made us more effective, hasn't made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated.'
His support for combat veterans accused of war crimes also has drawn criticism.
Pete Hegseth with Donald Trump in the Oval Office from when Trump was president
Many have questioned whether he can win Senate confirmation because of his lack of experience.
Since 2019, Hegseth has been married to his third wife, Fox News producer Jennifer Rauchet. The two were married at Trump's National Gold Club in Colts Neck, New Jersey.
Hegseth and his first wife, Meredith Schwarz, divorced in 2009. He and his second wife, Samantha Deering, divorced in August 2017, the year he was investigated for the alleged sexual assault.
One Hegseth ally blamed the surfacing of the allegation on GOP establishment members who are trying to thwart Hegseth's nomination.
'They'll try to kill all these nominations before the confirmation vote,' the ally said told Vanity Fair.
