President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, faced a sexual assault complaint in 2017 at a hotel in Monterey, Calif. The Monterey Police Department investigated the allegation but no charges were filed, and Mr. Hegseth was cleared of any wrongdoing. His attorney, Timothy Parlatore, stated that this should not impact his nomination process for the Defense Department.
Hegseth, a Fox News host and military veteran, has been a controversial choice for the Defense Secretary position due to concerns about his lack of experience and his support for combat veterans accused of war crimes. Despite these criticisms, he continues to be considered for the role.
The incident in question took place at a conference of the California Federation of Republican Women at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa, where the complainant filed the complaint four days after the encounter. According to the police statement, the complainant had bruises on her thigh, but the details of the police report were not made public.
The complaint against Hegseth was brought to light by Vanity Fair, sparking renewed interest and scrutiny of his nomination. However, his attorney maintains that he was cleared of any wrongdoing and believes that this issue should not affect his chances of being confirmed as Secretary of Defense.
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