Hegseth's Lawyer Threatens Legal Action Against Accuser

Attorney Tim Parlatore has indicated that Pete Hegseth's sexual assault accuser may face civil extortion and defamation lawsuits if Hegseth is not confirmed as Secretary of Defense. The confidentiality agreement that previously protected the woman is no longer valid, allowing her to speak publicly about the incident, but Parlatore warned that repeating what he calls 'false statements' could lead to legal consequences. The accusations stem from an alleged incident in 2017 at a Republican conference in Monterey, California, where the woman claimed she may have been drugged and assaulted, though no charges were filed. Hegseth has consistently denied the allegations, asserting that any interaction was consensual. Parlatore emphasized that if the woman's statements jeopardize Hegseth's career opportunities, a lawsuit would be considered. Critics, including Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, view these legal threats as an intimidation tactic against the accuser.