Pete Hegseth, former Fox News host, has denied assault allegations made against him, asserting that the interaction was consensual. The Monterey police investigated the claims but decided not to file charges due to insufficient evidence. A recently released police report details the incident involving a woman, referred to as Jane Doe, who reported memory lapses from a night in 2017. Hegseth’s attorney emphasized the investigation’s findings support his innocence, while former President Trump backed him publicly amidst the controversy.
Denial of Assault Allegations by Hegseth
Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth has firmly rejected the allegations of assault against him. In his statements to law enforcement at the time, he maintained that there was a mutual conversation and consensual interaction with the woman involved, as detailed in the police report.
Legal Proceedings and Police Investigation
The Monterey police department submitted the case to the Monterey County prosecutor, who ultimately decided not to pursue charges, citing insufficient evidence to support the claims beyond a reasonable doubt. The Monterey Police Department has yet to provide a comment on the matter.
In a press conference at the Capitol, Hegseth expressed his position, stating, “The case was thoroughly investigated and I was completely exonerated, and that’s where I’m going to stop.” He had been in discussions with Republican senators to seek support for his nomination.
The police report, released recently, refers to the complainant as Jane Doe. This document emerged following media requests for information regarding the incident, which surfaced after Hegseth was nominated by former President Trump for the Secretary of Defense position.
According to the report, Doe indicated that during a conference in Monterey, California, in October 2017, where Hegseth was a keynote speaker, she had been drinking. She recalled leaving a bar with Hegseth but could not remember much else until she found herself in an unfamiliar room with him blocking the exit.
Doe claimed she repeatedly said “no” during the encounter but had limited memory afterward, only recalling being on a couch or bed with Hegseth. The report notes that while Hegseth was not wearing a shirt, she did not notice any distinguishing features on his body.
Four days post-incident, Doe sought medical attention, although the report did not include the examination results or specify the hospital involved. Additionally, surveillance footage reportedly showed the two walking together, appearing to be in good spirits without any signs of impairment.
The report also mentioned that Doe suspected her drink might have been tampered with due to her memory lapses that night. Hegseth claimed he informed her about the lack of a condom and suggested they could stop if it was an issue, to which she allegedly responded that it was not a concern.
Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy Parlatore, stated that the police report supports Hegseth’s claim of innocence, highlighting that the investigation concluded the allegations were unfounded, which is why no charges were pressed.
Former President Trump also publicly supported Hegseth, calling the accusations false and praising him as a distinguished veteran capable of serving honorably as Secretary of Defense.
This controversy unfolded alongside the withdrawal of former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz from consideration for the Attorney General position amid separate allegations of misconduct.