President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, released a statement through his lawyer addressing reports that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2017 and paid off the accuser. The lawyer stated that Hegseth paid the accuser to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit. He also fielded allegations related to a tattoo of a cross on Hegseth’s chest.
Hegseth, a Fox News host, was accused of sexual assault in 2017 after an appearance at a Republican event in Monterey, California, according to a statement released by the City of Monterey. No charges were filed.
