Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Nominee for Defense Secretary, Refutes Newly Revealed Police Report of Alleged Sexual Assault Case
Per the report, the woman had gaps in memory from that night. She recalled being “buzzed,” but not drunk, and later told the nurse who did her sexual assault exam that something could have been slipped into her drink.
Hegseth has never been charged in connection to the alleged assault.
Per the report, he said he ensured the woman was “comfortable with what was going on between the two of them,” and that there was “‘always’ conversation and ‘always’ consensual contact.”
“This police report confirms what I’ve said all along, that the incident was fully investigated, and police found the allegations to be false, which is why no charges were filed,” Timothy Parlatore, Hegseth’s attorney, told CNN on Wednesday.
Parlatore’s comment comes days after he responded to Monterey city official’s initial confirmation of the investigation. At the time, he said, “An allegation was made and was fully investigated and he was cleared. This should have no effect whatsoever on the nomination process.”
Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman on the president-elect’s transition team, expressed similar sentiments on Thursday, telling CNN that the “police found the allegations to be false.” The report, however, does not come to the conclusion that the accusation was false.
Per CNN, Hegseth’s attorney said the TV personality made a settlement agreement with the woman in 2020. The agreement reportedly included payment and a confidentiality clause.
