Hegseth’s Attorney Threatens Extortion Lawsuit Against Female Accuser
Pete Hegseth’s attorney has hinted at a possible civil extortion lawsuit against the woman accusing his client of sexual assault, should his nomination as Secretary of Defense be derailed.
Tim Parlatore, Hegseth’s lawyer, told CNN that while the accuser’s actions may not meet the threshold for criminal extortion, there is a potential case for civil litigation if Hegseth chooses to pursue it.
“This was something we had considered at the time,” Parlatore said, referencing the period in 2020 when the accuser was preparing to file a lawsuit before signing a nondisclosure agreement (NDA). “Frankly, with the violation of the agreement, if he is not confirmed as Secretary of Defense, we may still bring a civil extortion claim against her,” he added, according to The Hill.
The allegations stem from an incident in 2017 when Hegseth was the keynote speaker at a Republican event in Monterey, California. Police records show that the woman claimed she met Hegseth at an after-party but could not recall much of the night, other than waking up in a hotel room with him. She alleged that Hegseth took her phone, blocked her from leaving, and believes she was raped and possibly drugged. However, no criminal charges were filed.
Hegseth has denied the allegations, maintaining that the interaction was consensual and that the accuser later regretted cheating on her husband. His lawyer noted that the NDA was signed during the height of the #MeToo movement to avoid prolonged controversy.
According to Parlatore, the accuser’s decision to bring the allegations to light following Hegseth’s nomination violates their agreement. “Her false claim was put out in violation of a settlement agreement,” he said. If this results in harm to Hegseth’s career prospects, Parlatore stated, “that is something that is worth bringing a lawsuit against.”
Parlatore further argued that the NDA is no longer enforceable, as it was breached by the accuser.
Allegations of Misconduct and Workplace Behavior Denied
In a related development, NBC News published a report citing anonymous sources claiming Hegseth has a history of heavy drinking and would sometimes appear at work intoxicated. Hegseth and his colleagues have strongly denied these claims, with numerous co-hosts and contributors from Fox & Friends Weekend speaking out against the allegations.
“Bullshit. 100 percent bullshit. Actually…horseshit,” said Will Cain, one of Hegseth’s co-hosts, in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He added, “I was not contacted by anyone at @NBCNews. And no one had closer proximity on a continuous basis. Well…maybe @RCamposDuffy since she sat between us!”
Rachel Campos-Duffy, another co-host, also criticized NBC’s report, accusing it of biased reporting. “Worth repeating, @NBCNews used ‘anonymous’ sources & unconfirmed stories to smear @PeteHegseth as a drunk on the job & never once asked his FOX & Friends coworkers who sit right next to him??? Don’t forget, @MSNBC started on day one of his nomination by saying he was a known racist/white supremacist,” she wrote. “Keep fighting, Pete. America is behind you.”
Other Fox News personalities echoed these sentiments. “I’ve guest co-hosted with him numerous times before. Not once did this happen. Not once have I heard this from others. This is such a disgusting and false smear. It is wrong and malicious,” said Lisa Marie Boothe.
Clay Travis, another media personality, dismissed the allegations as “ridiculous bullshit,” while co-host Guy Benson added, “I’ve co-hosted with Pete and have never experienced anything like what was claimed in this anonymously-sourced report.”
As the controversy unfolds, Hegseth and his allies have continued to deny all allegations, with his lawyer considering legal action against the accuser for breaching the NDA and the potential impact on Hegseth’s career.