Pete Hegseth, recently nominated for Defense Secretary by President-elect Donald Trump, faces a sexual assault allegation from a 2017 incident involving Jane Doe at a California hotel.

According to The Daily Caller, the controversy stems from an event in October 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa. The incident occurred during a conference held by the California Federation of Republican Women, where Jane Doe and Pete Hegseth were attendees.

According to a police report, Jane Doe has little memory of the sequence leading from a hotel bar to Hegseth's room, raising concerns about potential drugging or alcohol effects. Witnesses and security footage, however, indicated that she did not appear intoxicated before or after the encounter.

Alleged Incident At Conference Leads To Legal Settlement

Further details reveal that both Doe and another woman were engaging with Hegseth at the bar. A disturbance later arose near the hotel pool involving Hegseth and Doe, which led to noise complaints from other guests.

The hotel's front desk attendant noted Hegseth appeared drunk, but emphasized that Doe seemed coherent. Despite Hegseth’s claims of a non-disruptive evening, he was reportedly belligerent at the pool.

Concern grew when Jane Doe did not return to the room she shared with her husband, who then began searching for her. She returned around 4 AM, explaining she had fallen asleep elsewhere, showing no signs of intoxication.

Subsequent Memories And Legal Actions Complicate Nomination

The incident was briefly forgotten until Jane Doe, after being intimate with her husband the following Monday, began recalling the unsettling details. This prompted her to seek a sexual assault examination.

"Jane Doe said that she did not remember details of how she returned from a bar to a hotel room with Hegseth or much of their tryst, possibly because she may have been drugged or because she had been drinking," reported the police.

In response to the surfacing allegations, Hegseth's attorney argued the encounter was consensual, labeling the accusations as potential blackmail. Despite this, Hegseth chose to settle the matter out of court in 2020, fearing career repercussions at Fox News should the allegations become public.

Hegseth Maintains Consensual Nature Of Encounter Amid Senate Scrutiny

"Hegseth’s attorney has maintained that the encounter was consensual and that the allegations amount to de facto blackmail," Hegseth's legal representative stated.

Despite the settlement, the allegations have resurfaced, casting a shadow over Hegseth's nomination. The Trump transition team expressed surprise when the allegations emerged following the announcement of his nomination.

Hegseth himself has publicly maintained his innocence. "Hegseth told the police that the encounter was wholly consensual and that he maintained dialogue with Jane Doe throughout to ensure that her consent had not changed," he conveyed to law enforcement.

Impact Of Allegations On Defense Secretary Nomination

The Senate, tasked with confirming presidential nominations, now faces the challenge of dissecting these allegations amidst Hegseth’s confirmation proceedings.

With his career and reputation at stake, Hegseth’s confirmation hearings are likely to delve deep into the details of the 2017 incident, as senators weigh the credibility of the allegations against the nominee's account and his suitability for the high office.