Police Records Show Secretary of Defense (SecDef) Nominee Was Involved in Alleged Sexual Assault in 2017
Fox
and Friends co-host Pete Hegseth (right) and Marine Corps Brigadier General
David Walsh, head of Marine Corps Systems Command, hold a cake cutting ceremony
live during a Fox and Friends morning broadcast in New York City, New York, on
November 10, 2023. (U.S. Marine Corps image by Staff Sergeant Theodore Bergan)
Posted: November 18, 2024 --- Military.com | By Steve
Beynon and Konstantin Toropin
Published November
15, 2024, at 2:39pm ET
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense (SecDef), was involved in an alleged sexual assault in 2017 in Monterey, California, according to local authorities. The alleged incident occurred on October 8, 2017. Authorities did not disclose the age or identity of the alleged victim. Tim Parlatore, Hegseth's personal lawyer since 2017, told Military.com that "as confirmed by the Monterey Police Department, there was an allegation that was fully investigated, and he was cleared of any wrongdoing."
The
nomination of Hegseth, a host on Fox and National
Guard veteran, to lead the Pentagon sent shockwaves through
Washington and the defense community. As the U.S. military shifts
focus from combating terrorism to countering China, Hegseth's selection has
raised eyebrows, given his lack of experience within the defense community, but
underscored Trump's appetite for disruption and his key promise to shake up the
establishment.
It was still unclear Friday what Hegseth's priorities as SecDef would be, and his nomination must still be confirmed by the U.S. Senate -- unless Trump attempts to make his own appointments while Congress is in recess, sidestepping the typical vetting by the legislative branch of government. However, the U.S. Senate has not been in a true recess in years, specifically to prevent such moves by the executive branch.
Hegseth has long been a culture warrior protesting the military's so-called "woke" culture in various books and media appearances in recent years. Republicans have used the term to deride what they claim is the creep of liberal policies in the military in recent years. Most often, it refers to the growing number of minorities, women and other marginalized groups in the ranks, and policies that recognize and address them.
Among his criticisms, Hegseth has taken enormous issue with women in combat roles, saying female troops are a detriment to the effectiveness of front-line units. Women have long filled crucial roles in the military, but an exclusion on them serving in direct ground combat was lifted in 2013 by former SecDef Leon Panetta, the culmination of a long effort at equality in the ranks. The disclosure of the alleged sexual assault call to police was revealed shortly after Hegseth's nomination was announced this week.
He did not face any formal investigations into his conduct during his National Guard service, according to a spokesperson for the National Guard Bureau. The National Guard also had not as of Friday disclosed Hegseth's full military record, to include his duty assignments, which could shed light on his qualifications. His military background consists of a relatively unremarkable career, and he left the District of Columbia National Guard as a Major in 2021 with just under 13 years of service.
Questions specifically about Hegseth's service in the D.C. National Guard and his role in the Guard's response to the insurrection of January 6, 2021, by Trump supporters who falsely believed the presidential election had been stolen continue to go unanswered. During a Thursday press briefing, reporters pressed Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh about Hegseth's tenure in the Guard. However, Singh provided little clarity.
"I was not here during that time, and we were going through our own transition as the incoming Biden administration," Singh said. "This is really something that the services would handle." Hegseth ended his Guard career after being among at least a dozen Guardsmen removed from the Capitol defense mission in the wake of the January 6th attack.He has claimed he was labeled a security risk due to his Jerusalem cross tattoo. However, Hegseth also sports a "Deus Vult" cross tattoo, a symbol tied to the First Crusade. The phrase and cross have since been co-opted by neo-Nazi and far-right groups, raising further scrutiny of his background.
