Pete Hegseth Reveals How Much He Paid Accuser

Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's nominee for defense secretary, disclosed during his confirmation process that he paid $50,000 to a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017.

This information came in response to additional questions posed by Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren as part of the vetting process, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

Newsweek reached out to Timothy Parlatore, Hegseth's attorney, for comment on Thursday.

Why It Matters

Hegseth is among President Donald Trump's cabinet picks to face the most amount of scrutiny amid accusations of excessive drinking while being employed at Fox News and sexual assault. Hegseth has not been charged and has denied those accusations. During his confirmation hearing, he called the accusations a "left-leaning media smear campaign."

Despite the backlash, the Senate advanced Hegseth's nomination in a mostly party-line vote. Democrats strongly opposed him, and even some Republicans expressed concern about his behavior and qualifications to lead the U.S. military.

Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine broke with their party and voted against him, with Hegseth also facing allegations of abusive behavior toward his second wife and heavy drinking —accusations he denies.

What To Know

Hegseth admitted to the payment in response to questions from Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren during the confirmation hearing at the Senate, where he moved inches closer to becoming Secretary of Defense.

A 22-page police report detailed allegations that Hegseth sexually assaulted a woman in a California hotel room in 2017. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. No charges were filed.

Hegseth's lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, previously confirmed a settlement was paid to the woman but declined to comment on the $50,000 amount reported by the AP on Thursday. The attorney declined to comment to The Associated Press on the specified amount on Thursday.

Yet, a divided Senate advanced Pete Hegseth's nomination as Secretary of Defense in a 51-to-49 vote, largely along party lines. Republicans broke the Democratic filibuster, with those allegations about his personal conduct, including one from a former sister-in-law, unlikely to derail his confirmation.

What People Are Saying

Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican, praised Hegseth during the hearing, stating: "His experience in the line of fire and his service member advocacy make at least one thing clear: Pete Hegseth will put the men and women of our military first."

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, criticized Hegseth in a post on X, writing: "Pete Hegseth has exercised terrible judgment with alcohol, and we cannot trust him with our national security. I hope my Republican colleagues are thinking hard about the choice in front of them."

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, also voiced her concerns in a post on X, writing: "While the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking do nothing to quiet my concerns, the past behaviors Mr. Hegseth has admitted to, including infidelity on multiple occasions, demonstrate a lack of judgment that is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces."

What's Next

The final hurdle to a confirmation vote is now expected on Friday evening. A simple majority of senators is required to confirm Hegseth's nomination, which appears likely. Most Republicans, who hold a 53-seat majority, have signaled their support for him.

In the unlikely event of a tie, Vice President JD Vance would cast the deciding vote. Vance, who has referred to Hegseth as "the right guy" to lead the Defense Department, is expected to support the nomination.