Pete Hegseth’s Lawyer Says Accuser Could Face Civil Lawsuits

The attorney said the accuser is no longer bound to the legal agreement, which as been breached, and is free to speaking publicly if she chooses.

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (C), accompanied by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) (R), arrives for a meeting with Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) at the Capitol in Washington on Dec. 4, 2024. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The lawyer for Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth said on Dec. 5 that his client’s sexual assault accuser could face civil extortion and defamation lawsuits if he is not confirmed for the position by the Senate.

Tim Parlatore told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Thursday that the woman who accused Hegseth of sexual assault is free to speak about the incident publicly now that her settlement agreement with the defense nominee is breached, but that doing so could put her in legal jeopardy if “she doesn’t tell the truth.”