A woman in the US state of California alleged that United States President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet pick Pete Hegseth physically blocked her from leaving a hotel room, took her phone away, and then sexually assaulted her even though she “remembered saying ‘no’ a lot,” CNN reported citing a police report.
The woman was only identified as “Jane Doe” in the 22-page long report released by the city attorney’s office of Monterey, California on Wednesday (Nov 20).
The alleged assault took place after a Republican women’s conference at the Hyatt Hotel in Monterey, California, on October 8, 2017.
The report further highlighted some alleged details of the incident, stating how Hegseth was “very intoxicated” and was “giving off a creeper vibe”.
However, Hegseth had repeatedly said that their encounter was consensual and he made sure the woman “was comfortable with what was going on between the two of them.”
Seems like, seven years after the alleged incident, such questions about Hegseth could hinder his nomination.
His attorney has said that Hegseth later entered into a settlement agreement with his accuser in 2023, with an undisclosed monetary payment and a confidentiality clause.
Meanwhile, Hegseth has insisted that the encounter was consensual, but the lawyer said he was fearful that the woman was poised to make an allegation against him during the #MeToo movement which might have cost him his job as a Fox News host.
“This police report confirms what I’ve said all along, that the incident was fully investigated, and police found the allegations to be false, which is why no charges were filed,” Timothy Parlatore, Hegseth’s attorney, told CNN on Wednesday night.
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However, the records did not include copies of the video footage or a memorandum from the Monterey County district attorney’s office that could prove why Hegseth was never charged.
The accuser later told a hospital nurse that she “was not sure, but believes that something may have been slipped into her drink, as she cannot remember most of the night’s events,” and the nurse passed that on to police, according to the report.
The report added that the accuser had been drinking “much more than normal” that day.
The officers reviewed surveillance video from the hotel, showing the accuser and Hegseth “walking together, with arms locked together” leaving the bar and heading toward the hotel pool, with her smiling.
The accused told police that she argued with Hegseth near the hotel pool, an account that is supported by a hotel staffer who was sent to handle the disturbance and spoke to police, according to the report.
According to the report, the accuser recalled Hegseth telling her that he was “a nice guy” during the exchange.
However, in Hegseth’s statement to police, he had no memory of the altercation by the pool.
The next memory Doe had was being in an unknown room with Hegseth. “Doe remembered having her phone and Hegseth inquired to whom Doe was texting,” the report said. “Hegseth took her phone from her hands. Doe stated she got up and tried to leave the room, but Hegseth blocked the door with his body. Doe remembered saying ‘no’ a lot.”
As per the report, Doe’s next memory was getting back to her room where she got into bed with her husband.
Hegseth’s account said that Doe led him by the arm back to his hotel room, which surprised him because he initially had no intention of having sex with her, the report said, adding that he found it “odd” that Doe did not leave his room.
Hegseth, according to the report, “continuously asked Doe if she was okay because he did not want Doe to get in trouble.”
He further told police that Doe “showed early signs of regret” the next morning, but did not explain further.
(With inputs from agencies)