A threat of an extortion lawsuit was issued by Pete Hegseth’s lawyer against the woman who accused him of se*xual assault if Hegseth does not secure confirmation as secretary of Defense. Tim Parlatore informed CNN that while the accuser might not be guilty of criminal extortion, she could face a civil extortion lawsuit if he proceeds with legal action.
Parlatore noted that they had considered such a move when the accuser intended to file a lawsuit in 2020 prior to the signing of a nondisclosure agreement (NDA). He stated, “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.”
Pete Hegseth at a Press Conference Following Defense Secretary Nomination
The allegations against Hegseth involve an incident in 2017, when he was the keynote speaker at a Republican conference in Monterey, California. Police records indicate that the woman reported meeting Hegseth at an after-party but has little recollection of the evening, except for waking up in a hotel room with him, where she claims he blocked her from leaving and took her phone. She believes she may have been raped and possibly drugged, but no charges were filed.
Hegseth has denied the accusations, asserting that their encounter was consensual and that the woman later regretted cheating on her husband. He explained through his lawyer that he signed the NDA during the height of the #MeToo movement.
The allegations re-emerged last month after President-elect Trump nominated Hegseth to lead the Pentagon. Parlatore characterized the woman’s claims as false and stated that they were made in violation of a settlement agreement.
He further explained that if the accusations result in Hegseth losing future job opportunities, it would justify pursuing legal action. Parlatore claimed that the NDA is no longer in effect due to what he called a breach by the accuser.
Hegseth has faced a barrage of allegations, including excessive drinking during his previous employment at Fox News and with two veterans groups. Media reports have also accused him of financial mismanagement and inappropriate se*xual conduct at those organizations. Additionally, his mother, Penelope Hegseth, sent him an email in 2018 expressing concerns about his treatment of women, though she has since defended him on Fox News.
Determined to pursue the position of Defense secretary, Hegseth has garnered support from Trump, who backs his nomination. Throughout the week, Hegseth has been actively seeking to build support among GOP senators in hopes of securing confirmation for the role.
