Pete Hegseth paid woman after sexual assault accusation, lawyer confirms

A lawyer for Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s pick as Defense Secretary, confirmed that a woman who accused him of sexual assault was paid as part of a confidential settlement.

Hegseth’s attorney, Tim Parlatore, told The Associated Press that the settlement was made to prevent her from filing a baseless lawsuit.

Hegseth was accused of sexual assault in 2017 after a speaking appearance at a Republican women’s event in Monterey, California, according to a statement from the city.

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The person who reported the incident had bruises on the right thigh, according to the city’s statement. No charges have been filed.

Hegseth’s attorney said the sexual encounter was consensual.

Pete Hegseth, host of Fox & Friends, at the National Council of Young Israel Gala in New York City. (Photo by Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

A few years after the police investigation, a payment was made to the woman as part of a confidential settlement because Hegseth believed filing a threatened lawsuit could have gotten him fired from Fox News, where he was then a popular host, his attorney claims.

Parlatore would not disclose the amount of the payment.

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“He was falsely accused and my position is that he was the victim of blackmail,” Parlatore said, calling it a case of “successful extortion.”

Hegseth was in Monterey at the time, addressing the California Federation of Republican Women. At the time of the 2017 allegations, Hegseth, now 44, was divorcing his second wife, with whom he has three children.

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She filed for divorce after he had a child with a Fox News producer who is now his wife, according to court documents and social media posts by Hegseth. His first marriage ended in 2009, also after Hegseth’s infidelity, court records show.

Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump transition, issued a statement saying the newly elected president is “nominating highly qualified and extremely qualified candidates to serve in his administration.”

“Mr. Hegseth has strongly denied all allegations and no charges have been filed. We look forward to his confirmation as United States Secretary of Defense so he can get to work on day one to make America safe and great again,” Cheung said.