The nomination of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense under President-elect Donald Trump has drawn intense scrutiny following the release of a police report detailing allegations of sexual assault from 2017. The allegations, tied to an incident at a hotel in Monterey, California, have resurfaced just as Hegseth prepares for what promises to be a contentious Senate confirmation process.
The 22-page report, obtained through a public records request, contains conflicting accounts of the incident and raises questions about Hegseth's conduct. According to the report, a woman identified as "Jane Doe" accused Hegseth of physically preventing her from leaving a hotel room, taking her phone, and sexually assaulting her, even though she "remembered saying 'no' a lot." Hegseth, however, has denied the allegations, claiming the encounter was consensual.
"This police report confirms what I've said all along: that the incident was fully investigated, and police found the allegations to be false, which is why no charges were filed," Timothy Parlatore, Hegseth's attorney, said in a statement. However, the report does not explicitly conclude that police found the allegations to be false, instead outlining detailed accounts from both the accuser and Hegseth.
The alleged assault occurred in October 2017 after Hegseth spoke at a convention hosted by the California Federation of Republican Women. According to the report, Hegseth and Doe were part of a group that socialized at the hotel bar after the event. Surveillance footage from the hotel shows the two leaving the bar together at around 1:15 a.m., with Doe reportedly smiling and locking arms with Hegseth.
Doe told police that she had consumed more alcohol than usual that evening and suspected her drink may have been spiked. She recounted walking with Hegseth to the hotel pool area, where they argued about his behavior at the conference before heading to his room. Once there, she alleged, Hegseth took her phone, blocked her from leaving, and later assaulted her. She described vague memories of being overpowered and recalled Hegseth's dog tags "hovering over her face" during the encounter.
Hegseth's account differed sharply. He told police that the interaction was entirely consensual, claiming that he repeatedly ensured Doe was "comfortable with what was going on." He stated that they engaged in consensual sexual activity and that she had shown "early signs of regret" afterward. Hegseth also said Doe had told him she would explain her late return to her husband by saying she had fallen asleep in someone else's room.
The police report does not indicate why Hegseth was not charged, and the Monterey County District Attorney's office has declined to release further details, citing state law. Parlatore confirmed that Hegseth later entered into a settlement agreement with Doe, including a monetary payment and a confidentiality clause. The settlement, according to Parlatore, was reached to avoid public allegations during the #MeToo movement, which could have jeopardized Hegseth's career as a Fox News host.
Republican senators, many of whom were already skeptical of Hegseth's qualifications for the role, have largely withheld judgment pending further review. "We're going to do our due diligence... and I think an open hearings process is something that we all believe in," said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) echoed the need for a thorough background check and public investigation.
Hegseth's nomination has also drawn criticism for his lack of extensive defense policy experience and controversial past remarks, including opposition to women serving in combat roles and calls to remove "woke" military leaders. Democrats, including Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), have called for a comprehensive FBI background check as part of the vetting process.
The allegations against Hegseth are the latest in a series of controversies surrounding Trump's Cabinet picks, including ethics investigations into Rep. Matt Gaetz and criticism of the president-elect's selection process. The Trump transition team is reportedly preparing a list of alternative candidates for Secretary of Defense should Hegseth's nomination fail.
