Pete Hegseth paid a sexual assault accuser but denies allegations

Donald Trump Jr hails his father’s unconventional nominees as ‘disrupters’, while admitting they could face ‘pushback’

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Pete Hegseth paid a woman who accused him of sexual assault in a settlement so he would not lose his job at Fox News, according to his lawyer.
Mr Hegseth, who has been nominated as Defence Secretary by Donald Trump, has repeatedly denied the allegations he sexually assaulted the woman.
Tim Parlatore, who acts as Mr Hegseth’s attorney, said that he entered into a settlement agreement containing a confidentiality clause even though he claims he was completely innocent.
“Hegseth strongly felt that he was the victim of blackmail,” Mr Parlatore said, so he “ultimately decided to enter into a settlement for a significantly reduced amount” because he knew that the revelation “would result in his immediate termination from Fox”.
He claims that the accuser was taking advantage of Mr Hegseth.
“We believe she then extorted him knowing that at the height of the #MeToo movement, the mere public allegation would likely result in his immediate termination from Fox News,” Mr Parlatore said on Saturday.
Last week the City of Monterey confirmed in a news release that it had investigated the sexual assault allegations made against Mr Hegseth. The alleged incident was reported to have taken place at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Monterey, California, on a night in October 2017.
The victim reported suffering bruises to the right thigh. No weapons or property were involved, according to the report.
He is one of several Trump nominees who could face difficulties being confirmed by the US Senate, despite the Republicans having a majority.
Doubts have also been voiced about Matt Gaetz, the nominee for Attorney General; Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has been picked to head the Department of Health and Human Services and Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democrat chosen as the Director of National Intelligence.
Donald Trump Jr on Sunday hailed his father’s unconventional nominees as “disrupters”, while admitting they could face “pushback”.
“The reality this time is, we actually know what we’re doing. We actually know who the good guys and the bad guys are,” he told Fox News Channel’s Sunday Morning Futures.
“And it’s about surrounding my father with people who are both competent and loyal. They will deliver on his promises. They will deliver on his message. They are not people who think they know better, as unelected bureaucrats.”
He added contingency plans were in place if any were rejected by the Senate.
Mike Johnson, the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, also described the nominees as disruptors, adding that Mr Trump had the right to pick his own Cabinet.
“They will go into the agencies they’ve been asked to lead and they will reform them,” he said.