Pete Hegseth, designated by the elected president, Donald Trump, to lead the U.S. Department of Defense, has been the subject of an investigation related to an alleged sexual assault in 2017. The complaint was filed after a Republican women’s event at a hotel in Monterey, California, where the complainant showed bruises on her right thigh.
Although no charges were brought against Hegseth, his lawyer has vehemently denied the allegations, stating that the police did not find evidence against him at the time. Officials from the city of Monterey refused to disclose more details about the police report documenting the incident, which occurred while Hegseth was going through a divorce with his second wife.
Hegseth, a former military man who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, is known for being a staunch conservative and for embracing Trump’s policies. He has been an advocate for far-right stances, such as opposing transgender rights and supporting the militarization of the border with Mexico.
Despite this incident, Hegseth has been nominated to serve as Secretary of Defense of the United States in the Trump administration. In response to the allegations against him, a spokesperson for Trump’s transition team stated that Hegseth has rejected each of the accusations and that no charges were filed against him.
This is not the first time a Trump nominee has been embroiled in sexual allegations. Previously, Matt Gaetz was investigated for sex trafficking of minors, and Trump himself was found guilty of sexual abuse in a separate case.
