Pete Hegseth paid woman after sex assault allegation, lawyer confirms

A lawyer for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, confirmed that a woman who accused him of sexual assault was paid as part of a confidential settlement.

Hegseth’s lawyer, Tim Parlatore, told The Associated Press that the settlement was made to stop her from filing a baseless lawsuit.

Hegseth was accused of sexual assault in 2017 after a speaking appearance at a Republican women’s event in Monterey, California, according to a statement released by the city.

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The person who reported the assault had bruises on the right thigh, according to the city's statement. No charges were filed.

Hegseth’s lawyer said the sexual encounter was consensual.

Pete Hegseth, host of Fox & Friends, at the National Council of Young Israel Gala in New York City. (Photo by Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

A payment was made to the woman as part of a confidential settlement a few years after the police investigation because Hegseth believed the filing of a threatened lawsuit could have gotten him fired from Fox News, where he was then a popular host, his lawyer maintains.

Parlatore would not reveal the amount of the payment.

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"He was falsely accused and my position is that he was the victim of blackmail," Parlatore said, calling it a case of "successful extortion."

Hegseth was in Monterey at the time to address the California Federation of Republican Women. At the time of the 2017 accusations, Hegseth, now 44, was going through a divorce with his second wife, with whom he has three children.

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She filed for divorce after he had a child with a Fox News producer who is now his wife, according to court records and social media posts by Hegseth. His first marriage ended in 2009, also after infidelity by Hegseth, according to court records.

Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump transition, issued a statement saying the president-elect is "nominating high-caliber and extremely qualified candidates to serve in his Administration."

"Mr. Hegseth has vigorously denied any and all accusations, and no charges were filed. We look forward to his confirmation as United States Secretary of Defense so he can get started on Day One to Make America Safe and Great Again," Cheung said.