Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, named by President-elect Donald Trump as his pick for defense secretary, settled a sexual assault accusation with a payment in 2023, his attorney confirmed to NBC News. The complainant received an undisclosed amount as part of a civil confidential settlement, and Hegseth maintains his innocence, according to his attorney, Timothy Parlatore.
The allegations date back to 2017 during a conference of the California Federation of Republican Women in Monterey, California. The Washington Post reported that a friend of the accuser had sent a memo to Trump’s transition team outlining the incident. The memo alleged the woman, attending the conference with her family, had no memory of events until she found herself in Hegseth’s hotel room and later stumbled back to her own.
Parlatore strongly denied the accusations, stating, “This was a consensual encounter, and the woman fabricated her story to explain her absence to her husband.” He claimed the incident was investigated thoroughly, including reviews of video surveillance and eyewitness accounts, which he said indicated the woman was the aggressor.
The attorney further stated the accusation only surfaced days later under pressure from her husband. NBC News has not independently verified the memo or the allegations.
The case has drawn scrutiny as it involves a nominee for a high-ranking federal position, highlighting issues of accountability and transparency in such appointments.
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