Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and President-elect Donald Trump’s left-field pick for defense secretary, was investigated by police in Monterey, California, in 2017, over a sexual assault allegation.
The Monterey Police Department confirmed in a statement Thursday that it had investigated an alleged sexual assault involving Hegseth seven years ago, citing “numerous inquiries” from the media about the alleged incident. Hegseth was not charged with any crime.
According to the police, the alleged encounter took place in the early hours of Oct. 8, 2017, at an address where the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course is located. NBC News reported that the National Federation of Republican Women’s convention was taking place at the hotel at the time. A report was filed four days later, on Oct. 12.
The statement this week from police did not include any details about the alleged victim. Regarding injuries, it said there were “contusions to right thigh” but did not provide additional details. No weapons were involved, Monterey police added.
Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, told NBC News that “the police statement speaks for itself” and that his client “was cleared.”








