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Jimmy Williams
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, is under renewed scrutiny after the Monterey Police Department released a report Wednesday detailing a 2017 sexual assault allegation against him. Hegseth has denied the accusations, which stem from an alleged incident after a Republican women’s convention in California.
The accuser, identified in the report as “Jane Doe,” told police that Hegseth took her phone, blocked her from leaving his hotel room, and sexually assaulted her. She alleged she could not recall large portions of the night, leading her to suspect her drink had been spiked.
Attorney John Clune, representing the woman, said she sought a sexual assault exam days later but initially refrained from naming Hegseth to authorities. Clune stated, “She wants accountability but does not wish to relive this ordeal publicly.”
Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, maintains that the allegations are baseless. “The police investigated this matter thoroughly and found no evidence to support the claim. No charges were filed, and Pete was cleared,” Parlatore said.
The police report includes conflicting accounts. Hotel surveillance footage reportedly shows Hegseth and the accuser walking arm-in-arm. Witnesses interviewed by police described the woman as coherent and not visibly intoxicated. One witness alleged the woman appeared flirtatious with Hegseth.
Hegseth acknowledged in a 2017 police interview that he and the accuser had consensual sex but claimed they mutually expressed hesitation. According to the report, Hegseth stated, “We kept saying, ‘We shouldn’t do this,’ but we continued.”
The accuser told police she remembered saying “no” multiple times but could not recall how she returned to her hotel room, which she shared with her husband.
The police investigation ended without charges, and Hegseth ultimately reached a financial settlement with the accuser in 2018. Parlatore said Hegseth opted to settle “at the height of the MeToo movement” to avoid prolonged legal battles.
The report’s release comes as Hegseth faces a Senate confirmation process to lead the Department of Defense. On Thursday, Hegseth addressed reporters, stating, “This matter was fully investigated, and I was completely cleared. I look forward to the confirmation process.”
The allegations add to the controversy surrounding Trump’s Cabinet picks. Hegseth joins other nominees, including Matt Gaetz for attorney general, who face serious allegations. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to grill nominees in the coming weeks, with Democrats and some moderate Republicans signaling concerns.
