Hegseth Faces Scrutiny Amid Assault Allegations and GOP Defense

Pete Hegseth, nominated by President-elect Trump for Defense Secretary, has addressed a resurfaced 2017 sexual assault allegation, asserting the encounter was consensual and that he was cleared by police. Hegseth's legal team is seeking a district attorney's memo they believe contains exonerating details, including past false allegations by the accuser. The police report and witness accounts suggest the accuser was not intoxicated and willingly left a hotel bar with Hegseth. The case was not prosecuted, and Hegseth maintains his innocence.