Pete Hegseth, former Fox News host and President Donald Trump’s pick as Secretary of Defense, was investigated by police in Monterey, California in 2017 over a sexual assault allegation.
The Monterey Police Department confirmed in a statement Thursday that it had investigated an alleged sexual assault involving Hegseth seven years ago, citing “numerous questions” from the media about the alleged incident. Hegseth was not charged with any crime.
According to police, the alleged encounter took place in the early hours of October 8, 2017, at an address housing the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa at Del Monte Golf Course. NBC News reported that the National Federation of Republican Women’s Convention was taking place at the hotel at the time. Four days later, on October 12, a report was filed.
This week’s police statement provided no details about the alleged victim. As for injuries, it said there were “contusions to the right thigh” but did not provide additional details. No weapons were involved, Monterey police said.
Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy Parlatore, told NBC News that “the police statement speaks for itself” and that his client was “acquitted.”
“I can’t say much more. It didn’t happen,” he added.
Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director and incoming White House communications director, said in a statement that Hegseth “has strongly denied all allegations and no charges have been filed.” We look forward to his appointment as United States Secretary of Defense so that he can get to work on day one to make America safe and great again.”
Trump’s announcement of Hegseth as his choice to lead the Defense Department has placed the former Fox News host under intense scrutiny. (The network said Hegseth’s last day on the job there was Tuesday.) Hegseth is a combat veteran who was a captain in the Army National Guard, but his qualifications to lead the military have been questioned by both Democrats and Republicans.
Several of Hegseth’s controversial comments have also resurfaced in the past week. He has called Daniel Penny, a white Marine veteran currently on trial for the murder of a homeless black man on the New York subway last year, an “American hero.” (Penny has pleaded not guilty and said he tried to protect fellow subway passengers.) Hegseth has also said he wants to purge the military of “woke” officials (a goal he shares with Trump), and insisted that women should not be allowed serve. into the battle, and suggested that the rules of war should be changed in favor of the United States.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
