Last week, Donald Trump announced that he had nominated Pete Hegseth, a Fox News commentator and Army National Guard officer, to serve as his Secretary of Defense in his incoming administration. Hegseth’s selection was immediately met with skepticism, with critics pointing to his lack of traditional military leadership experience as well as his public push in favor of pardoning servicemembers accused of war crimes, and against women serving in combat roles.
But in the days since his nomination, it emerged that the conservative TV host had been accused of sexual assault many years prior. Though Trump appears to be standing by his decision to pick Hegseth, the news added another bump to Hegseth’s already rocky path to confirmation. Here’s what we know so far.
The allegation
Vanity Fair reported last week that the Trump transition team had received word that Hegseth had been accused of sexual misconduct back in 2017. A source told the outlet that Trump attorneys and his newly-appointed chief of staff Susie Wiles asked Hegseth about the incident which he characterized as a “he-said, she-said.”
The incident allegedly took place during the 2017 California Federation of Republican Women conference in Monterey where Hegseth was in attendance. Per the Washington Post, the transition team received a four-page memo detailing an alleged assault by Hegseth of a 30-year-old woman at the hotel, written by a friend of the victim in question. The friend claims that the woman has since signed a non-disclosure agreement with Hegseth.
In a statement, the City of Monterey confirmed that the local police department investigated a “alleged sexual assault” that occurred between 11:59 p.m. on October 7 and 7:00 a.m. on October 8, 2017 at 1 Old Golf Course Road, the location of the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel. The city did not list the name or age of the alleged victim, but noted that they sustained bruises on their right thigh. A report was completed days later on October 12.
What has Hegseth said?
Hegseth has maintained that the 2017 encounter was consensual. Timothy Parlatore, Hegseth’s attorney, said in a statement to the Post that the Fox commentator was “visibly intoxicated” at the time of the incident, but alleged, with no provided evidence, that the police had determined the woman who filed the complaint was the “aggressor.”
Parlatore confirmed that Hegseth agreed to pay the woman as part of a non-disclosure agreement out of concern that the incident becoming public “would result in his immediate termination from Fox.” The amount of the sum was undisclosed.
What has Trump said?
Despite the alleged assault coming to light, Trump appears undeterred in his selection of Hegseth. The New York Times reports that Trump told aides that he intends to stand by Hegseth following the reports of the 2017 incident. “Mr. Hegseth has vigorously denied any and all accusations, and no charges were filed. We look forward to his confirmation,” incoming Trump communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement to the outlet.
Since securing a second term, Trump has shown no signs of wavering support for his more controversial Cabinet picks. CNN reports that the president-elect intends to move forward on his selection of former Congressman Matt Gaetz for attorney general despite a looming report from the House Ethics committee which investigated claims that he had an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old among other claims. He has also publicly embraced Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., his contentious nominee for Health and Human Services secretary.
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