Pete Hegseth, the Army veteran and Fox News host recently nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for the position of defense secretary, was investigated for an alleged sexual assault in 2017, according to officials in Monterey, California.
In response to multiple public records requests, including one from CBS News, the City Manager’s Office and the Monterey Police Department released a statement late Thursday evening confirming the 2017 investigation involving Hegseth. The statement provided limited details and indicated that no further public comments would be made regarding the case.
The alleged incident occurred between 11:59 p.m. on October 7, 2017, and 7 a.m. on October 8, 2017, at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel, located at 1 Old Golf Course Road. A police report was filed with the Monterey Police Department on October 12, 2017.
Authorities did not disclose the name or age of the alleged victim but noted that the injuries involved contusions on the right thigh. The statement also mentioned that no weapons were involved in the incident.
The sexual misconduct allegation was first reported by Vanity Fair, which stated that Trump’s incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, was briefed about the alleged incident involving Hegseth. The report indicated that Hegseth described the encounter as consensual and characterized the situation as a “he-said, she-said” scenario.
“This allegation was already investigated by the Monterey police department and they found no evidence for it,” Timothy Parlatore, a former Trump lawyer who regularly defends active and retired members of the U.S. military, told Vanity Fair.
Hegseth, a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, has received several military honors, including two Bronze Stars. His nomination for defense secretary has drawn attention due to his military background and media presence.
