Sexual Assault Allegation Against Fox News Host and Defense Secretary Nominee
On the afternoon of October 12, 2017, a nurse at Kaiser Permanente called the Monterey Police Department to report that a patient had come in for a sexual assault exam.
The Alleged Assault
The woman, identified only as Jane Doe in police reports, told the nurse she wasn’t sure she wanted to involve authorities and didn’t want to disclose the person’s name at that point. She had been suffering from nightmares and bouts of sobbing after returning home from the conference, but had little memory of the sexual encounter. She feared she had been drugged.
The Investigation
The nurse referred the woman to an emergency room for a sexual assault forensic exam. But the nurse’s call — made as a mandated reporter — triggered a law enforcement probe that included interviews with hotel staff, a review of surveillance video, discussions with several of the woman’s associates and a conversation with the alleged perpetrator, Pete Hegseth, who assured police the encounter had been consensual.
No Charges Filed
No charges were ever filed. Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni said no charges were supported by proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The two parties eventually reached a private settlement, after which Doe signed a non-disclosure agreement.
Confirmation Fight
Recently, a police report on the incident and other details have offered a clearer picture about the allegations. But much remains unknown, including why local prosecutors decided not to file charges against Hegseth.
Confirmation Hearing
In recent days, a friend of the woman wrote a memo to Trump’s transition team saying that Hegseth had raped the then-30-year-old conservative group staffer in his hotel room in the early morning hours following a banquet dinner at the California Federation of Republican Women conference.
Hegseth’s Response
Hegseth confirmed the financial settlement, saying through his lawyer that he had agreed to pay the woman to protect his job at Fox. But he vehemently denied committing assault. The woman, Hegseth’s lawyer said in a statement, “was the aggressor in initiating sexual activity.” Hegseth had been “visibly intoxicated” at the after-party in the hotel bar, the lawyer said, and the woman had “led him by the arm to his hotel room.”
Police Report
This week, the Monterey Police Department released a redacted 22-page report detailing its investigation, including accounts of the recollections of Doe and Hegseth, along with several other attendees. Though police reports are typically not public in California, the document had been released because Hegseth had previously asked for a copy.
Details of the Incident
The police report offers the most complete picture yet of what occurred at the Monterey hotel on Oct. 7 and 8. On the second day of the three-day gathering, Doe took a break in her hotel room where she was staying with her husband and at least one of her small children before the banquet dinner and keynote speech — the last major scheduled event of the conference — began at 6 p.m., according to text messages and sources with knowledge of the event.
Conclusion
The allegations against Hegseth have sparked a firestorm, both in Washington and among the members of the California Federation of Republican Women. The federation, which is a nonprofit advocacy group, is an organization comprised mostly of retirees. Its members gather for luncheons, conferences and fundraisers to hear Republican politicians speak about conservative issues.
FAQs
Q: What is the alleged incident?
A: The alleged incident occurred at a Republican women’s conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Spa in Monterey, California, on October 7 and 8, 2017. The alleged assailant, Pete Hegseth, is a Fox News host and the keynote speaker at the conference.
Q: What did the police report reveal?
A: The police report revealed that Doe had been suffering from nightmares and bouts of sobbing after returning home from the conference, but had little memory of the sexual encounter. She feared she had been drugged. The report also stated that Hegseth had been “visibly intoxicated” at the after-party in the hotel bar, and the woman had “led him by the arm to his hotel room.”
Q: Why were no charges filed?
A: No charges were filed because local prosecutors said there was no proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The two parties eventually reached a private settlement, after which Doe signed a non-disclosure agreement.
Q: What is the current status of the allegations?
A: The allegations are currently under investigation, and Hegseth has denied committing assault. The incident has sparked a firestorm, both in Washington and among the members of the California Federation of Republican Women.
