Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick to lead the Defense Department, was the subject of a sexual assault complaint in 2017 in Monterey, Calif., according to public records and Mr. Hegseth’s lawyer. No charges were filed.
In a statement issued late Thursday, Monterey Police Department said had it investigated an allegation of sexual assault involving Mr. Hegseth at the address of the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa.
“An allegation was made and was fully investigated and he was cleared,” Timothy Parlatore, Mr. Hegseth’s attorney, said. “This should have no effect whatsoever on the nomination process.”
Mr. Hegseth, a Fox News host and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is a controversial choice for secretary of defense. Former Pentagon officials have questioned whether he can win Senate confirmation because of his lack of experience for the job. His support for combat veterans accused of war crimes has also drawn criticism.
Mr. Hegseth was a speaker at a conference of the California Federation of Republican Women at the Monterey hotel in early October 2017 when the encounter that led to the investigation occurred. According to the police statement, the complaint was filed four days after the encounter, and the complainant had bruises to her thigh.
The police report itself was not released. The complaint was reported earlier by Vanity Fair.
Source: Elections - nytimes.com
