Over the weekend, Pete Hegseth, the nominee for Secretary of Defense chosen by President-elect Donald Trump, responded to reports from 2017 alleging that he sexually assaulted a woman and paid the accuser through his lawyer. In a statement released through his lawyer, Hegseth explained that the payment to the accuser was made to thwart baseless legal threats. He also addressed the accusations regarding a cross tattoo on his chest.
According to a statement issued by the city of Monterey, California, in 2017, Fox News host Hegseth was accused of sexual assault following a Republican event in Monterey, but no charges were filed at the time.
Hegseth’s lawyer, Tim Parlatore, stated on Sunday (November 17) that the woman who brought forth the accusations days later was the “aggressor,” a point not mentioned in the city’s statement.
Parlatore stated, “He’s been falsely accused, and my position is that he’s a victim of an extortion attempt.”
He added that Hegseth’s encounter with the woman was consensual, and after several years of police investigation, a payment was made to the woman as part of a confidential settlement to prevent her lawsuit threat, as Hegseth feared it could jeopardize his position as a Fox News anchor.
Parlatore referred to it as a “successful extortion attempt.”
The statement released by Monterey city provided few details and mentioned that the identity and age of the alleged victim were kept confidential. It also noted reports of a “bruised right thigh” in the alleged incident, with no weapon involved.
According to the statement, the event occurred between 11:59 pm on October 7, 2017, and 7:00 am on October 8.
The city mentioned, “Therefore, pursuant to the [California] regulation, the full police report, including the analysis and conclusions within, is not required to be disclosed.”
The regulation only requires “limited disclosure of specific non-private information related to the complaint or request for assistance.”
The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Epoch Times on November 17.
Following the allegations against Hegseth, a spokesperson for the Trump team stated in a release that the President-elect is “nominating high-caliber, highly qualified individuals for government positions.”
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for the Trump team, stated, “Mr. Hegseth vehemently denies all allegations, which were never charged, and we look forward to him being nominated as Secretary of Defense, so that he can begin making America safe and great again from day one.”
In addition to these reports, Hegseth also issued a statement regarding recent attacks on his tattoo of a Jerusalem cross on his chest and “Deus Vult” tattoo on his arm. The motto can be traced back to the late 11th century during the First Crusade as a Christian hymn to boost morale.
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance also stepped in to defend Hegseth, responding to an Associated Press report that labeled Hegseth an “insider threat” due to his cross tattoo.
On November 15, Vance wrote on the X social media platform, “They are attacking Pete Hegseth because he has a Christian motto tattooed on his arm.”
He stated, “The anti-Christian bigotry of the Associated Press is nauseating, and the entire organization should be ashamed.”
Hegseth commented on X that if nominated as Secretary of Defense, “This behavior against Christians, conservatives, patriots, and everyday Americans will end on day one.”
The Fox and Friends host has served in Afghanistan and Iraq and holds degrees from Harvard University and Princeton University.