Associated Press
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, paid a woman who accused him of sexual assault to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit, according to Hegseth’s lawyer.
Hegseth was accused of sexual assault in 2017 after a speaking appearance at a Republican women’s event in Monterey, California, according to a statement released by the city. No charges were filed.
His lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, told The Associated Press on Sunday that the sexual encounter was consensual and that the woman who made the accusation to police several days later was the “aggressor.” That assertion has not been confirmed in the statement released by the city.
Parlatore said a payment was made to the woman as part of a confidential settlement a few years after the police investigation because Hegseth was concerned that she was prepared to file a lawsuit that he feared could have resulted in him being fired from Fox News, where he was a popular host. Parlatore would not reveal the amount of the payment.
“He was falsely accused and my position is that he was the victim of blackmail,” Parlatore said, calling it a case of “successful extortion.”
The Washington Post earlier reported details of the payment. The newspaper also reported it obtained a copy of a memo sent to Trump’s transition team this past week by a woman who said she is a friend of the accuser that details the sexual assault allegations.
Trump’s transition team had no immediate comment Sunday on the memo.
The person who reported the assault — whose name, age and sex were not released — had bruises on the right thigh, according to the city’s statement. No weapons were involved in the encounter, the person told police.
The incident occurred sometime between 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 7 and 7 a.m. the following morning, according to the city’s statement.
Hegseth was in Monterey at the time to address the California Federation of Republican Women during a banquet dinner held at the group’s biennial convention, according to social media posts and promotional materials from the time.
Monterey officials said they were withholding further details included in the police report because it included analysis and conclusions by law enforcement officials that are exempt from release under state public records law.
At the time of the 2017 accusations, Hegseth, now 44, was going through a divorce with his second wife, with whom he has three children. She filed for divorce after he had a child with a Fox News producer who is now his wife, according to court records and social media posts by Hegseth. His first marriage ended in 2009, also after infidelity by Hegseth, according to court records.
After the accusations first surfaced last week, Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump transition who has been named White House communications director, issued a statement saying the president-elect is “nominating high-caliber and extremely qualified candidates to serve in his Administration.”
“Mr. Hegseth has vigorously denied any and all accusations, and no charges were filed. 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,” Cheung said.
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Republished with permission from The Associated Press.
8 comments
Red Storm
November 18, 2024 at 9:04 am
Women can be sexual predators as well. A woman at my place of employment filed against one of our male employees with the same allegation. Fortunately for him he had a device which recorded the consensual encounter and her sorry azz was terminated. Hegseth appears to be a flaming heterosexual. Let’s see what happens.
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White Spiteful Demon
November 18, 2024 at 9:29 am
He had history of whoring around on his multiple wives,you just mad she did give you none,how is this woman a sexual predator like Trump,you hatred of women is so obvious,any woman have anything to do with you , should think twice
Florida is Red
November 18, 2024 at 10:26 am
Not only can you not write Jrral, your comprehension skills are
Lacking as well. Looks like the zombie force is turning on coup leader Pelosi. That is Karma my friend. She is a mean spirited, vindictive, sub human.
White Spiteful Demon
November 18, 2024 at 10:37 am
She was elected with 81 percent of the vote
Florida is Red
November 18, 2024 at 10:40 am
What does that say about her district? Look at Hank Johnson’s and Maxine Waters. San Fran is a dump now. To the 81% make sure and tell her thanks.
White Spiteful Demon
November 18, 2024 at 10:41 am
That why Trump is a felon, whoring around on Melania and paid for it and got convicted for it
Manhattan Joe
November 18, 2024 at 10:33 am
Cheated on his first and second wives and knocked up a low-level Fox staffer who became his third, all while flaunting far-right Christian supremacist tattoos. It’s what Jesus would want.