A detailed police investigative report made public Wednesday reveals new information regarding a sexual assault allegation against former Fox News personality Pete Hegseth dating back to 2017. The report details claims from a woman who stated Hegseth sexually assaulted her after an event in California. According to her account, Hegseth allegedly took her phone, blocked the hotel room door, and prevented her from leaving.
At the time of the investigation, Hegseth, who was once considered for a defense secretary nomination by then President-elect Donald Trump, told police that the encounter was consensual and denied any accusations of wrongdoing.
The allegations resurfaced recently when local officials confirmed a woman’s accusation from October 2017 following Hegseth’s appearance at a Republican women’s event in Monterey.
Speaking to reporters at the Capitol, Hegseth asserted, “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared,” as he was meeting with senators, reportedly to garner support for a potential nomination.
However, the police report does not explicitly state that the allegations were found to be false. Instead, police recommended that the case report be forwarded to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office for review.
Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni stated that her office declined to press charges in January 2018 due to insufficient “proof beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Tim Palatore, Hegseth’s attorney, has acknowledged a confidential settlement with the woman in 2023, reportedly to preempt what he described as a baseless lawsuit. The settlement amount remains undisclosed.
The 22-page police report, accessible to the public following a records request, provides the first comprehensive account of the woman’s allegations, presenting a stark contrast to Hegseth’s version of events. The report includes police interviews with the alleged victim, a nurse who conducted her examination, a hotel employee, another woman present at the event, and Hegseth himself.
In line with standard practice, the woman’s name has not been released by The Associated Press to protect her privacy as an alleged victim of sexual assault.
A spokesperson for the Trump transition team commented on Thursday, stating that the “report corroborates” the narrative that Hegseth’s legal team has maintained throughout.
According to the report, investigators were initially alerted by a nurse who contacted them after a patient requested a sexual assault examination. The patient informed medical staff that she believed she had been assaulted five days prior but had limited memory of the events. She suggested that something might have been added to her drink before she found herself in the hotel room where the alleged assault occurred.
Police records indicate the collection of the unwashed dress and underwear she was wearing on the night in question as part of the investigation.
The woman’s partner, who was staying with her at the hotel, informed police of his concern on the night of the incident when she did not return to their room. He searched for her at the hotel bar around 2:00 AM but could not find her. She returned to their room several hours later, apologizing and saying she “must have fallen asleep.” Days later, she disclosed to him that she had been sexually assaulted.
Another woman, who helped organize the California Federation of Republican Women event where Hegseth was a speaker, told police she had observed Hegseth acting inappropriately throughout the evening, including stroking the thighs of multiple women. She reportedly texted a friend expressing that Hegseth was giving off a “creeper” vibe, as detailed in the police report.
Following the event, an after-party was held in a hotel suite attended by Hegseth and the woman, among others. It was there, she stated to police, that she confronted Hegseth about his behavior towards women, expressing her disapproval.
Subsequently, a group including Hegseth and the woman moved to the hotel bar. It was at this point that “things got fuzzy” for the woman, she told police.
The police report details her recollection of having a drink at the bar with Hegseth and others. She also recounted arguing with Hegseth near the hotel pool, an incident corroborated by a hotel staff member who intervened and provided a statement to the police.
She then told police that she found herself in a hotel room with Hegseth. According to her statement, Hegseth took her phone and physically blocked the doorway, preventing her from leaving. She also told police she remembered “saying ‘no’ a lot.”
Her next memory, as stated in the report, was of being on a couch or bed with a bare-chested Hegseth above her, noting his dog tags were dangling. Hegseth is a veteran of the National Guard, achieving the rank of major.
After the alleged assault, she recalled Hegseth throwing a towel at her and asking if she was “OK,” according to the report. She informed police that she did not remember how she returned to her own hotel room and that she has since experienced nightmares and memory loss.
At the time of the alleged incident, Hegseth, then 44, was in the midst of divorce proceedings from his second wife, with whom he shares three children. The divorce followed Hegseth having a child with a Fox News producer, who is now his third wife, according to court documents and Hegseth’s social media posts. His first marriage also ended in 2009, reportedly due to infidelity on Hegseth’s part, as per court records.
Hegseth joined Fox News as a contributor in 2014 before becoming a co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend.” He departed the network after Trump’s intention to nominate him became public.
In his statement to investigators, Hegseth admitted to attending the after-party and drinking beer, but denied consuming liquor. He acknowledged feeling “buzzed” but not intoxicated.
Hegseth claimed he met the woman at the hotel bar and that she led him to his hotel room by the arm, which he stated surprised him as he initially had no intention of engaging in sexual activity with her.
Hegseth told investigators that the subsequent sexual encounter was consensual, stating he explicitly asked her multiple times if she was comfortable. He noted that in the morning, the woman “showed early signs of regret,” and he reassured her that he would not disclose the encounter to anyone.
Hegseth’s attorney stated that the payment to the woman, made as part of the confidential settlement several years after the police investigation, was due to Hegseth’s concern that she was prepared to file a lawsuit. He reportedly feared this could have resulted in his termination from Fox News, where he was a prominent host. The attorney declined to reveal the exact amount of the settlement.
