Megyn Kelly Questions Sexual Assault Allegation Against Pete Hegseth

Journalist and attorney Megyn Kelly is casting serious doubt on the sexual assault allegations leveled against Trump Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, describing the claim as suspicious and pointing to a police investigation that led to no charges.

The accusation stems from a 2017 incident where an unnamed woman alleged that Hegseth, a decorated combat veteran and former Fox News host, sexually assaulted her in a hotel room. According to the police report, Hegseth has maintained that the encounter was consensual. After an investigation, Monterey Police opted not to prosecute.

Kelly scrutinized the details of the case on her podcast, pointing to inconsistencies in the accuser’s narrative and the absence of corroborating evidence.

“The Monterey Police did not bring charges,” Kelly emphasized. “If they had found a date rape drug in her system she said she had a rape exam the next morning they 100% would have prosecuted him.”

She also noted that the accuser’s husband and children were reportedly asleep in a nearby hotel room, questioning why the woman didn’t alert her husband immediately if she had been assaulted.

“Pete said that he got swept up in some woman’s guilt trip over the fact that she chose to sleep with ‘Pete Hegseth, big Fox News star,’ while her husband was asleep down the hall,” Kelly said. “So, to me, that one smells. And it smells bad.”

Video footage obtained during the investigation showed Hegseth and the woman leaving a hotel bar with their arms locked, appearing amicable. Hegseth reportedly told police that he repeatedly sought the woman’s consent throughout their encounter to ensure she was “comfortable with what was going on.”

Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy Parlatore, defended his client, stating:

“This police report confirms what I’ve said all along, that the incident was fully investigated, and police found the allegations to be false, which is why no charges were filed.”

Additionally, Hegseth did agree to a financial settlement with the woman and signed a confidentiality agreement. His attorney clarified that this decision was made to protect Hegseth’s career from baseless accusations, not as an admission of guilt.

Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump’s transition team, voiced strong support for Hegseth.

“Police found the allegations to be false,” Leavitt said. “Pete Hegseth is a highly respected combat veteran who will honorably serve our country when he is confirmed as the next Secretary of Defense, just like he honorably served our country on the battlefield.”

As Hegseth awaits confirmation, Kelly’s pointed critique of the accusations reinforces the notion that the claim lacks credibility. With police declining to prosecute and evidence supporting Hegseth’s account, the case underscores the dangers of weaponized allegations in the public sphere.

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