FOX & Friends with Pete Hegseth on May 27, 2022 at Fox News Channel Studios in New York City.
Roy Rocklin | Getty Images
Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth’s attorney confirmed to NBC News on Sunday that President-elect Hegseth Donald Trump Appointed candidate for defense secretary, paid an undisclosed amount to a woman after she accused him of sexual assault.
“As part of a confidential civil settlement, Hegseth paid the complainant in 2023 and maintains his innocence,” Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy Parlator, said in a statement. .
He also denied that a 2017 encounter between Hegseth and an unnamed woman was a sexual assault.
Parlatore’s statement comes after The Washington Post published it on Saturday A friend of Hegseth’s accuser reportedly sent a memo The Trump transition team detailed the allegations.
NBC News has not independently reviewed the memo, but Parlatore confirmed it related to a meeting between Hegseth and the unnamed woman during a California Federation of Republican Women conference in Monterey, California.
The memo said the woman was attending a meeting with her husband and children “until she entered Hegseth’s hotel room and stumbled to her hotel room,” the memo said, according to The Washington Post. Remember anything”.
Parlatore denied the allegation, saying: “This was a consensual situation and it was unfortunate that the woman had to concoct a lie to explain why she did not return to her husband’s room that night.”
“The incident was not reported until several days later, under pressure from her husband. The matter was fully investigated by police and video surveillance, as well as the testimony of multiple witnesses,” he added.
Monterey authorities investigated the allegation in 2017 but did not file charges against Hegers.
Parlatore also called his client “completely innocent” and accused the woman of “trying to extract money from Mr. Hegseth.”
Before Hegseth can officially become defense secretary, he must win a Senate majority in a confirmation vote.
“I think he’s a good pick,” Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday.
However, he added that the Senate must consider and review Hegseth’s record before voting.
“But as the allegations emerge, we will figure out, and as the Senate provides advice and consent to the President of the United States and fulfills our constitutional responsibilities, we will figure out whether he can be confirmed or not. I do think Pete is the man for this position. A good candidate.
