Breaking: Trump’s Defense Pick Faces Scrutiny Over Sexual Assault Settlement
A bombshell revelation has rocked President-elect Donald Trump’s administration as his defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, confronts mounting questions about a sexual assault allegation and subsequent financial settlement from 2017.
According to Timothy Parlatore, Hegseth’s attorney, the former Fox News host paid an undisclosed sum to a woman who accused him of sexual assault following a speaking engagement at a Republican women’s event in Monterey, California. Parlatore maintains that the encounter was consensual and characterizes the payment as a strategic move to prevent potential career damage at Fox News.
Parlatore asserted that he was the victim of blackmail, characterizing the situation as “successful extortion.”
The incident occurred at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on October 8, 2017. Police records confirm that the accuser filed a report four days later, with investigators noting bruises on her right thigh. No criminal charges were filed.
Trump’s transition team received a detailed memo that presents a different narrative. Multiple news outlets obtained the document, which identified the accuser as “Jane”Doe,” a 30-year-old event staffer who met Hegseth at the hotel bar. The memo claims she has only “hazy memories” of the alleged assault.
Despite the controversy, President-elect Trump is standing firmly behind his nominee. His communications director, Steven Cheung, released a statement saying, “President Trump is nominating high-caliber and extremely qualified candidates to serve in his administration. Mr. Hegseth has vigorously denied any and all accusations.”
The 44-year-old Hegseth, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran, has long been a Trump favorite, known for his conservative commentary on Fox News. His nomination has already faced criticism from Pentagon officials who question his stance on military policies and his past comments about Defense Department leadership being too “woke.”
Recent reports have added to the controversy, revealing that a fellow National Guard member previously flagged Hegseth as a potential “insider threat” due to his “Deux Vult” tattoo, which has been associated with extremist groups.
Timeline of Events:
- October 7-8, 2017: Alleged incident occurs in Monterey
- October 12, 2017: Police report filed
- February 2020: Cease-and-desist letter sent to accuser
- Late 2020: Confidential settlement reached
- November 2024: Nominations for Defense Secretary are announced.
The settlement revelation comes at a crucial time as Hegseth prepares for what could be a challenging Senate confirmation process. Multiple senators, including Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, have expressed surprise at his nomination.
The case has striking parallels to Trump’s own legal challenges, particularly his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
As Washington grapples with this developing story, questions remain about the vetting process and whether the confidential settlement agreement might impact Hegseth’s confirmation chances. We expect the Senate Armed Services Committee to schedule hearings in the coming weeks.