President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is standing by Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth amid sexual misconduct allegations.

According to a report, Trump’s incoming Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was briefed about the claims, and Hegseth, a “Fox & Friends” co-host was also asked about the allegations.

“According to two sources, Wiles was briefed Wednesday night about an allegation that Hegseth had acted inappropriately with a woman. One of the sources said the alleged incident took place in Monterey, California in 2017,” Vanity Fair reported.

“According to the transition source, the allegation is serious enough that Wiles and Trump’s lawyers spoke to Hegseth about it on Thursday. A source with knowledge of the meeting said that Hegseth said the allegation stemmed from a consensual encounter and characterized the episode as he-said, she-said,” the outlet added.

A veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the 44-year-old also has two Bronze Stars. His nomination by Trump immediately set off leftist critics who essentially ignored his military background.

Trump’s choice of Pete Hegseth for Sec of Defense brings MORE meltdowns from clueless media https://t.co/OPXyHvcctS via @BIZPACReview

— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) November 13, 2024

An “ally” of Hegseth’s blamed the resurfaced sexual misconduct allegation on “GOP establishment members who are trying to thwart Hegseth’s nomination,” according to Vanity Fair.

“They’ll try to kill all these nominations before the confirmation vote,” the person said.

“This allegation was already investigated by the Monterey police department and they found no evidence for it,” Hegseth’s lawyer Timothy Parlatore said on Thursday.

Trump’s team is standing by the nominee.

“President Trump is nominating high-caliber and extremely qualified candidates to serve in his Administration,” Communications Director Steven Cheung said, according to the outlet.

“Mr. Hegseth has vigorously denied any and all accusations, and no charges were filed. We look forward to his confirmation as United States Secretary of Defense so he can get started on Day One to Make America Safe and Great Again,” he added.

The city government of Monterey issued a press release on Thursday in response to “numerous inquiries regarding a 2017 investigation conducted by the Monterey Police Department” of Hegseth.

The Public Information Officer
for the City of Monterey provided this document to me for @Mediaite – 2017 POLICE INVESTIGATION INVOLVING PETER HEGSETH #PeteHegseth pic.twitter.com/XBumlyis7g

— dianafalzone (@dianafalzone) November 15, 2024

The police department had reportedly investigated “an alleged sexual assault” involving Hegseth on October 8, 2017, at the address of the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa. The incident was reported four days later. The city would not release the full police record, citing the California Public Records Act.

“This statement confirms that although an allegation was made, it was fully investigated and no charges were filed,” Parlatore told CNN on Friday.

• About
• Latest Posts

Frieda Powers

Senior Staff Writer
Frieda@bizpacreview.com

Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

Latest posts by Frieda Powers (see all)

• 221 DEAD people received federal housing aid in Colorado— Trump admin. demands answers - December 18, 2025
• Cruise Line official pushes back on ‘nonsense’ drink package limit - December 18, 2025
• Border Patrol Chief and progressive mayor clash during street confrontation - December 18, 2025

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.