Pete Hegseth advised Sen. Elizabeth Warren he paid $50,000 to girl who accused him of sexual assault
Washington — Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s nominee to guide the Protection Division, advised Sen. Elizabeth Warren that he paid $50,000 to a lady who accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2017, two sources accustomed to the matter confirmed to CBS Information.
Hegseth has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and stated the encounter with the girl in a Monterey, California, resort was consensual.
He made the disclosure in answering written questions posed to him by the Massachusetts Democrat throughout the vetting course of for his affirmation.
The Related Press first reported the information.
In a December interview with SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Present,” Hegseth stated he paid his accuser “as a result of I needed to — or not less than I believed I did on the time.” He stated that he was newly married, and into consideration for a job within the first Trump administration and wished to guard his household and his Fox Information job. He declined at the moment to reveal the quantity he paid.
Earlier Thursday, the Senate superior Hegseth’s nomination, placing him on monitor to be confirmed as quickly as Friday night time if his help holds. He can afford to lose as much as three Republican votes, with Vice President JD Vance readily available to interrupt a tie, if crucial. Senate Republicans have largely dismissed the allegations in opposition to Hegseth however noticed two defections throughout Thursday’s procedural vote.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine each stated they opposed Hegseth’s nomination, citing the quite a few misconduct allegations in opposition to him and his feedback on girls in fight. Hegseth has admitted leaning on alcohol as “self-medication,” he advised “The Will Cain Present” podcast, however he has additionally denied he has a ingesting downside and vowed to not drink if he is confirmed as protection secretary.
