Pete Hegseth, US President Donald Trump‘s defence secretary nominee, told senator Elizabeth Warren that he paid $50,000 to a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017.
Hegseth maintained his innocence
According to a report from The Associated Press, the payment details emerged in written responses to Warren’s additional queries during the vetting process. When contacted on Thursday, Hegseth’s legal representative, Timothy Parlatore, withheld comment on the specific amount, though he had previously acknowledged the settlement in November. During his confirmation hearing, Hegseth maintained his innocence.
The Senate advanced Hegseth’s nomination on party lines, with final confirmation expected Friday. The nomination faces opposition from Democrats and two Republicans over concerns including allegations of excessive alcohol consumption and spousal abuse, which Hegseth contests.
Hegseth’s ongoing alcohol issues
Following Hegseth’s Senate hearing, Trump’s transition team informed Senate Armed Services Committee leaders about an additional FBI statement from Samantha Hegseth, his second wife. On January 16, they briefed senator Roger Wicker and senator Jack Reed about her claims regarding Hegseth’s ongoing alcohol issues.
Reed criticised the FBI background check quality, noting unprecedented multiple briefings in his 25-year committee tenure. He confirmed recent reports about the briefings’ contents as accurate.
Parlatore disputed Reed’s account, saying that Samantha Hegseth merely told the FBI about Hegseth’s drinking frequency while acknowledging no recent contact for approximately seven years.
A former sister-in-law’s affidavit on Tuesday alleged repeated intoxication and abuse towards Samantha Hegseth, claiming she feared for her safety. Both Hegseth and his former wife deny abuse allegations, with Parlatore dismissing the affidavit as politically motivated.
Allegations of sexual assault
The $50,000 settlement followed allegations of sexual assault in a California hotel room in 2017, where the woman reported to police that Hegseth took her phone, blocked the door and prevented her departure.
Hegseth maintained the encounter was consensual and denied wrongdoing. The police report doesn’t indicate false allegations and was forwarded to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.
District attorney Jeannine M Pacioni declined prosecution in January 2018, citing insufficient evidence for conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. Parlatore explained the settlement was reached years after the police investigation, as Hegseth worried about potential litigation affecting his position at Fox News, where he hosted programmes.
