Police report uncovers new details in sexual assault claim against Trump’s defense secretary nominee

This allegation came from a newly released police report obtained by CNN. The report includes different accounts from the woman, Hegseth, and others at the scene.

Hegseth denies the accusation. He told police their encounter was consensual. He said he made sure the woman was “comfortable” with everything that happened.

The report says the incident happened after Hegseth gave a speech at a political event in Monterey, California. After the event, Hegseth and the woman, identified as “Jane Doe,” went to a hotel bar with others.

Hotel security footage shows the two leaving the bar together around 1:15 a.m. They walked arm in arm and appeared to be smiling. Later, a hotel employee said they saw the pair arguing near the pool.

Doe said she argued with Hegseth about his behavior toward women earlier that night. She claimed she didn’t remember much after that.

Doe told police she woke up in Hegseth’s hotel room. She remembered him taking her phone and blocking the door when she tried to leave.

She recalled him being on top of her and “saying no a lot.” She also remembered seeing his dog tags and later finding herself back in her own room.

She reported the incident to the hospital days later, where a rape kit was completed. She told a nurse she believed something may have been put in her drink because her memory of the night was unclear.

Hegseth admitted they were in the room together but insisted everything was consensual. He said they talked openly and that Doe never showed signs of being uncomfortable.

He claimed Doe told him she would explain her late return to her husband by saying she fell asleep on someone’s couch.

Hegseth’s lawyer said police never charged him, and he later reached a settlement with Doe, paying her an undisclosed amount of money.

The police interviewed witnesses, including event attendees and hotel staff.

One attendee said Hegseth acted inappropriately toward several women at the bar, including touching one woman’s knee. Another witness said they saw Doe flirting with Hegseth.

A hotel employee recalled responding to guest complaints about an argument between Hegseth and Doe near the pool. The employee described Hegseth as visibly intoxicated but said Doe seemed sober.

Police reviewed surveillance videos showing Hegseth and Doe’s movements that night. However, the footage doesn’t show what happened inside the hotel room.

The Monterey County District Attorney’s office declined to press charges but hasn’t disclosed why. The police report doesn’t state the allegations were false, as claimed by Hegseth’s attorney.