Ministerial Candidate Trump Settled Sexual Misconduct Case

washington - Pete Hegseth, a candidate for the position of United States Secretary of Defense, settled with a woman who accused him of sexual abuse, according to The Washington Post.

Pete Hegseth, who is vying to become the American Secretary of Defense, reached a settlement with a woman who accused him of sexual misconduct. The settlement was part of a confidentiality agreement, as reported by The Washington Post based on documents reviewed by the newspaper and a statement from Hegseth's attorney. Hegseth claims that the encounter was consensual.

It was previously revealed that police launched an investigation into the allegation of sexual abuse at a hotel in California in 2017. Hegseth's lawyer told The Washington Post that the police, who were contacted by the woman several days after the incident, concluded that 'the complainant was the aggressor during the encounter.' The police have not confirmed this allegation. According to his attorney, Hegseth was 'visibly under the influence' at the time of the incident.

Fearing being fired as a presenter at the conservative network Fox News, Hegseth agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to the woman.

Last week, it emerged that a friend of the alleged victim informed Trump's team about the accusation. In a document seen by The Washington Post, it is stated that Hegseth raped the then 30-year-old staff member of a conservative group in his room after an evening at a hotel bar.

Following reports of the police investigation, the team of incoming President Trump expressed their support for Hegseth. 'Mr. Hegseth has denied all allegations and has never been prosecuted.'