A newly released police report reveals disturbing details about an alleged sexual assault involving Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for defense secretary.
According to NBC News, the Monterey Police Department investigation documents detail accusations from a woman who claims Hegseth took her phone and prevented her from leaving his hotel room before sexually assaulting her following a Republican women's convention in California in October 2017.
The woman, identified only as Jane Doe, reported the incident to medical professionals days after the alleged assault. She underwent a sexual assault examination at an emergency room on October 12, 2017, telling a nurse she believed she may have been drugged during the encounter. The nurse subsequently alerted law enforcement to the alleged assault.
The police investigation included surveillance footage from the hotel showing Hegseth and the accuser walking together with interlocked arms around 1 a.m. Multiple witnesses interviewed by police stated that the woman appeared coherent and not visibly intoxicated throughout the evening.
The accuser told investigators she confronted Hegseth earlier that night because "she did not appreciate how he treated women." She recalled drinking champagne at an after-party and visiting the hotel bar, where her memory became unclear.
According to her account, Hegseth followed her when she left the bar, took her phone when she was texting, and physically prevented her from leaving the room.
Hotel staff and other witnesses provided conflicting observations about the evening. While one hotel employee described Hegseth as "very intoxicated," they noted the woman appeared coherent. Another witness reported seeing the accuser apparently flirting with Hegseth, touching his body and arm during their interactions.
Hegseth was not charged following the investigation. His attorney, Timothy Parlatore, maintains that the surveillance footage and witness interviews support his client's innocence. Hegseth recently confirmed paying an undisclosed settlement amount to the accuser.
Parlatore explained that Hegseth agreed to the settlement during "the height of the MeToo movement" despite believing he was "the victim of blackmail." The attorney suggested the accuser fabricated the story to protect her marriage.
The Trump transition team has stood by their nominee. Communications director Steven Cheung emphasized that Hegseth "vigorously denied any and all accusations" and praised him as a "high-caliber and extremely qualified" candidate for the position.
The former Fox News anchor becomes one of three high-profile Trump Cabinet picks confronting serious allegations of sexual misconduct. When questioned by reporters on Capitol Hill after meeting with senators, Hegseth addressed the allegations briefly, stating:
The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and that's where I'm going to leave it.
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's choice for defense secretary, faces intense scrutiny as he moves forward in the confirmation process for one of the nation's highest military positions. The release of the 2017 Monterey Police Department investigation has brought renewed attention to sexual assault allegations that emerged during a Republican women's convention in California.
The nominee's path to confirmation may be complicated by these revelations, as senators weigh the detailed police report against Hegseth's denials and subsequent settlement with his accuser. While no criminal charges were filed in the case, the documentation of the investigation and its timing present significant challenges for both the nominee and the incoming administration.
