Pete Hegseth, Trump's Pentagon pick, threatens sexual assault accuser with extortion lawsuit if…

Pete Hegseth has threatened to file a lawsuit against the woman who accused him of sexual assault if he is not confirmed as the top Pentagon official.

Published on: Dec 7, 2024, 13:38:01 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth has threatened to file an extortion lawsuit against the woman who accused him of sexual assault if he is not confirmed as the top Pentagon official.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Defense Secretary (AP)

Tim Parlatore, the lawyer for President-elect Donald Trump's choice for defense secretary, stated that the accuser might not have committed criminal extortion, but a case for civil extortion might still be brought against her, CNN stated.

“It was something we were considering,” Parlatore stated, alluding to the woman's intention to file a suit in 2020 before receiving payment to sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA).

“Quite frankly, with the violation of the agreement, if he is not confirmed as secretary of defense, we may still bring a civil extortion claim against her.”

A quick recap of case against Hegseth

In 2017, the woman reported to the authorities that Hegseth had assaulted her in Monterey, California, where he addressed a Republican women's convention as the keynote speaker.

According to Hegseth, the interaction with the woman was consensual.

Charges were never filed against Hegseth even as the victim believed that she had been drugged and assaulted. The formerr Fox News host later settled with her in a NDA.

Also Read: Donald Trump stands by Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth despite drinking, sexual assault allegations: ‘He will be fantastic’

NDA has ‘been breached’ says Hegseth's lawyer

Speaking to CNN, Hegesth's lawyer said the woman made a false claim, which was shared in “violation” of the deal.

If it “causes him to lose his future employment opportunities, then yes, that is something that is worth bringing a lawsuit against,” he said.

The NDA has “been breached” and is no longer enforceable, Parlatore added.

Hegseth has faced several accusations since resigning from his position as host of Fox & Friends Weekend. He quit his job after Trump' nominated him to head the Pentagon.

Hegseth is accused of drinking heavily while leading two distinct veterans organisations and working at Fox News.

In 2018, Hegseth's mother wrote her son an email, accusing him of mistreating women. However, she later appeared on Fox News to defend her son.

While Trump has expressed support for his choice to head the Pentagon, Hegseth has pledged to stay in the race for Defense Secretary. In an effort to persuade Republican senators to confirm him for the position, Hegseth spent the most of the week building support on Capitol Hill.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.