Trump's defense secretary pick Fox News' Pete Hegseth was investigated for sexual assault in 2017

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's prime for defence secretary, was investigated for an alleged intersexual battle successful 2017 but nary charges were filed.

The alleged incidental took spot successful the aboriginal greeting hours of October 8, 2017, astatine the code of the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa successful Monterey, California, the city said successful a statement. 

The constabulary section investigated 'an alleged intersexual assault' involving Hegseth, a Fox News big and Army National Guard veteran, that was reported 4 days later, according to the statement.

The victim's sanction and property are confidential.

No weapons were involved, according to the statement, but determination were injuries – 'contusions to close thigh.'

No further details were released and the metropolis said it would not merchandise the afloat constabulary report, noting it was exempt from nationalist disclosure. The connection did not accidental what happened to the investigation.

Hegseth, who was divorced from his 2nd woman astatine the clip of the alleged incident, has not been charged successful immoderate transgression lawsuit oregon named arsenic a suspect successful immoderate civilian lawsuit.

Timothy Parlatore, a lawyer representing Hegseth, told quality outlets: 'This connection confirms that though an allegation was made, it was afloat investigated and nary charges were filed.'

The Trump modulation squad was alert of the allegation.

Incoming main of unit Susie Wiles was briefed Wednesday nighttime astir it, Vanity Fair reported.

Wiles and Trump's lawyers spoke to Hegseth astir it connected Thursday. Hegseth told them the allegation stemmed from a consensual brushwood and called it a 'he-said, she-said' situation, a root told Vanity Fair.

Hegseth was a talker astatine the California Federation of Republican Women league astatine the Monterey edifice erstwhile the brushwood that led to the probe occurred.

The Trump squad is lasting by their nominee.

'Mr. Hegseth has vigorously denied immoderate and each accusations, and nary charges were filed,' said Trump communications manager Steven Cheung. 'We look guardant to his confirmation arsenic United States Secretary of Defense truthful helium tin get started connected Day One to Make America Safe and Great Again.'

Hegseth's information to pb the Pentagon is controversial.

He is simply a seasoned of Iraq and Afghanistan with a fistful of subject medals, including 2 Bronze Stars.

But galore person questioned whether the 44-year-old co-host of 'Fox & Friends Weekends' tin grip managing the Defense Department, which has a fund of $842 billion, astir 3 cardinal employees and 750 subject installations astir the world.

He besides has a past of arguable statements.

Hegseth erstwhile called liberals 'domestic enemies.' 

And helium has said women should not beryllium successful combat for the U.S. military, a constituent helium has made repeatedly including past week successful an interrogation with 'The Shawn Ryan Show' podcast.

'I'm consecutive up conscionable saying, we should not person women successful combat roles,' Hegseth said connected that podcast. 'It hasn't made america much effective, hasn't made america much lethal, has made warring much complicated.'

His enactment for combat veterans accused of warfare crimes besides has drawn criticism.

Many person questioned whether helium tin triumph Senate confirmation due to the fact that of his deficiency of experience.

Since 2019, Hegseth has been joined to his 3rd wife, Fox News shaper Jennifer Rauchet. The 2 were joined astatine Trump's National Gold Club successful Colts Neck, New Jersey.

Hegseth and his archetypal wife, Meredith Schwarz, divorced successful 2009. He and his 2nd wife, Samantha Deering, divorced successful August 2017, the twelvemonth helium was investigated for the alleged intersexual assault.

One Hegseth state blamed the surfacing of the allegation connected GOP constitution members who are trying to thwart Hegseth's nomination.

'They'll effort to termination each these nominations earlier the confirmation vote,' the state said told Vanity Fair.