By A newly released police report reveals detailed allegations that Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, sexually assaulted a woman in 2017 after blocking her exit from a California hotel room and taking her phone, contradicting his claims of a consensual encounter.
The 22-page investigative document, made public Wednesday, provides the first comprehensive account of allegations against the Fox News personality stemming from an October 2017 incident following his speech at a Republican women’s event in Monterey. The report includes interviews with the alleged victim, medical personnel, hotel staff, and Hegseth himself.
According to police records, investigators were first alerted by a nurse after a patient requested a sexual assault examination five days after the alleged incident. The woman reported memory gaps and suggested something may have been added to her drink before the assault occurred. Police collected her unwashed clothing from that night as evidence.
The alleged victim, whose name is being withheld by The Associated Press in accordance with its policy on sexual assault cases, told investigators she had confronted Hegseth earlier that evening about his “inappropriate” behavior, including what she observed as unwanted touching of multiple women’s thighs. Text messages cited in the report show she had described Hegseth as giving off a “creeper” vibe to a friend.
The woman recounted to police that after moving from an afterparty to the hotel bar, where her memory became “fuzzy,” she found herself in a hotel room with Hegseth, 44, who allegedly blocked the door and took her phone. She reported “saying ‘no’ a lot” and next remembered him shirtless above her, his military dog tags visible.
Hegseth, a former National Guard major, provided investigators a contrasting account, claiming the encounter was consensual and initiated by the woman. He acknowledged being “buzzed” but not intoxicated, saying he explicitly sought consent multiple times.
The nominee’s attorney revealed that Hegseth later made a confidential payment to the woman to prevent a potential lawsuit he feared could jeopardize his Fox News position. The amount remains undisclosed.
A Trump transition team spokeswoman claimed Thursday the report “corroborates what Mr. Hegseth’s attorneys have said all along: the incident was fully investigated and no charges were filed because police found the allegations to be false.” However, the report does not make this conclusion, instead noting that investigators recommended forwarding the case to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office for review.
Court records indicate the incident occurred while Hegseth was divorcing his second wife following his affair with a Fox News producer, whom he later married. His first marriage also ended in 2009 amid infidelity allegations.
apnews.com
