President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has been embroiled in controversy after allegations of sexual assault surfaced. According to his lawyer, a woman accused Hegseth of sexual assault in 2017 following a speaking engagement at a Republican women's event in Monterey, California. The city released a statement confirming the accusation but noted that no charges were filed.
Hegseth's lawyer maintains that the encounter was consensual and alleges that the woman was the aggressor. A confidential settlement was reached a few years later, with Hegseth making a payment to the woman to prevent a baseless lawsuit. The lawyer claims that Hegseth believed the threat of a lawsuit could have jeopardized his position at Fox News, where he was a popular host at the time.
The Washington Post reported on the payment and revealed the existence of a memo sent to Trump's transition team by a friend of the accuser detailing the sexual assault allegations. The transition team has not commented on the memo.
The incident reportedly took place during the early hours of the morning following the event in Monterey. The accuser had visible bruises on their thigh but stated that no weapons were involved in the encounter.
At the time of the accusations, Hegseth was going through a divorce with his second wife, with whom he shares three children. His first marriage also ended due to infidelity on his part. Despite the allegations, the Trump transition team has expressed support for Hegseth's nomination as defense secretary, emphasizing his qualifications and denying the accusations against him.
As the controversy unfolds, the public awaits further developments in the case and the confirmation process for Pete Hegseth as the potential United States Secretary of Defense.
