Pete Hegseth to visit Capitol as details from 2017 sexual assault report emerge

Good morning,

The scrutiny around Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, grows as police unveiled an investigative report into the Fox News host that further detailed the sexual assault allegations surrounding him.

The 22-page report released by police dates back to 12 October 2017. It includes allegations from a woman who told police that she was sexually assaulted by Hegseth after drinking at a hotel bar in Monterey, California following a Republican women’s event where Hegseth spoke. According to the report, Hegseth assaulted the woman after he took her phone, blocked the door to a hotel room and prevented her from leaving.

The police report’s release follows recent news of “a detailed memo” on the alleged assault which a friend of the accuser sent to the Trump transition team. Hegseth has insisted the encounter was consensual but paid the woman an unknown sum after she signed a nondisclosure agreement.

Emerging details of the alleged assault come as Hegseth is set to visit Capitol Hill today. The Fox host is expected to meet with JD Vance and Republican senators ahead of his confirmation process.

Here are other developments in US politics:

The Senate has rejected Bernie Sanders’ effort to block arms sales to Israel which the Vermont senator introduced out of concerns over the mass killings of Palestinians by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Joe Biden is set to sign the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act today which will reauthorize the national research, surveillance and awareness program on heart disease.
Trump is likely to choose Johns Hopkins surgeon Martin Makary – who raised concerns about various public health issues including opposing vaccine mandates – as head of the Food and Drug Administration.

Key events

According to the report, the woman, identified as Jane Doe, “stated she observed Pete Hegseth acting inappropriately” with women at the conference, adding that he told her she was a “nice guy”.

The report stated:

“Hegseth would rub the women on their legs and Jane Doe thought that his actions were inappropriate. Jane Doe had texted [redacted] that Hegseth was giving off a ‘creeper’ vibe. The women thought Hegseth was ‘dreamy’ and wanted pictures with Hegseth. Jane Doe stated she had also taken a picture with Hegseth, earlier in the day …”

The report went on to add:

“Jane Doe stated she remembered walking out of the bar and assumed Hegseth followed her because she argued with Hegseth near the pool. The argument was about Hegseth’s actions with the women at the conference. Jane Doe remembered Hegseth tell her that he was a nice guy.

Jane Doe stated the next memory she had was when she was in an unknown room. Jane Doe did not know where she was and how she got to the room. Hegseth was in the room with her. Jane Doe remembered having her phone and Hegseth inquired to whom Jane Doe was texting. Hegseth took her phone from her hands. Jane Doe stated she got up and tried to leave the room, but Hegseth blocked the door with his body. Jane Doe remembered saying ‘no’ a lot. Jane Doe stated she did not remember much else.”

The woman then recalled being on a bed or a couch with Hegseth over her, with his dog tags hovering over her shirt. She added that she saw Hegseth “fully nude” during this incident.

According to the woman, her next memory was when Hesgeth ejaculated on her stomach before throwing a towel at her and asking, “Are you okay?”

The woman’s last memory is of her walking into her room. She told the police that she did not remember how she got back to her room.