Emerging details have shed new light on a 2017 sexual assault allegation against Pete Hegseth, former secretary of defense pick for Donald Trump. The Washington Post reported Friday that Trump’s transition team was informed of the allegation via a memo, prompting concerns about its potential impact.
The alleged incident reportedly occurred at a California hotel following a conference held by the California Federation of Republican Women. According to The Post, a complaint was filed by a friend of the accuser, identified as "Jane Doe."
On Saturday, Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy Parlatore, confirmed that Hegseth, who is also a Fox News host, made a payment to the accuser, citing concerns over the potential impact on his television career. Parlatore’s account of events, however, contrasts sharply with the complaint shared with Trump’s team.
According to the original complaint, the accuser, who is married, was reportedly disoriented and only recalled the alleged assault in Hegseth's hotel room the following day. She then sought medical attention, where a rape kit reportedly tested positive for semen. No charges were filed against Hegseth following a police investigation.
In response, Parlatore contends that it was Hegseth who was "visibly intoxicated" and incapacitated when Jane Doe brought him to his hotel room, alleging that she initiated the encounter. Regarding the rape kit, Parlatore asserts it found "no evidence of nonconsensual contact."
He also noted that a nondisclosure agreement was signed over two years after the incident and that a cease-and-desist letter was later issued after the woman reportedly threatened legal action.
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