Accusations of Sexual Assault Against Hegseth Surface

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, faces renewed scrutiny following the release of a police report detailing allegations of sexual assault from 2017. The report reveals that the unnamed woman, referred to as 'Jane Doe', accused Hegseth of blocking her from leaving a hotel room and taking her phone during an encounter she described as non-consensual, despite Hegseth's claims to the contrary. She reported feeling drugged and stated she had repeatedly said 'no' during the incident. Although no criminal charges were filed, Hegseth's attorney asserted that the allegations were found to be false, while also revealing that a settlement agreement was reached with the accuser in 2020, including financial compensation and a confidentiality clause. The police report includes various witness accounts and discrepancies regarding the events of that night, highlighting conflicting narratives between Hegseth and Doe. Trump's transition team defended Hegseth, asserting he is a respected veteran and that the incident was thoroughly investigated without any charges.