Explosive Legal Showdown: Hegseth’s Lawyer Threatens Lawsuit Over ‘False’ Assault Allegations in High-Stakes Confirmation Fight

Attorney Tim Parlatore stated that he would consider filing a lawsuit against the woman for civil extortion or defamation if she were to repeat what he described as false accusations that could harm Pete Hegseth’s chances of being confirmed to the Trump administration or damage his future career opportunities.

Parlatore emphasized that while the woman is now free to speak publicly about the case due to a prior confidentiality agreement no longer being in effect, she must be truthful in her statements. He warned that if she continued to make what he considers false claims, she could face legal consequences, including a defamation lawsuit.

“If she doesn’t tell the truth and repeats these false statements, she will open herself up to legal action,” Parlatore explained. He further noted that both the woman and her attorney are fully aware that the previous confidentiality agreement has been breached and is no longer legally binding, meaning she is at liberty to discuss the matter but does so at her own risk.

Connecticut Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee responsible for overseeing Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearings, criticized the legal threats made against Hegseth’s accuser, calling them an attempt to intimidate her. In an interview with CNN on Thursday,

Blumenthal described the threats as “reprehensible” and argued that they were intended to discourage or silence a potential witness. “What they’re doing, essentially, is threatening or intimidating a potential witness,” he said.

The allegations stem from an incident in October 2017, which was detailed in a Monterey Police Department report released last month. According to the report, the woman told investigators that she encountered Hegseth at an afterparty following an event at a California hotel where both had been drinking.

She claimed that she could not remember how she ended up in Hegseth’s hotel room but alleged that he sexually assaulted her. The report further stated that Hegseth took her phone from her and, when she attempted to leave the room, blocked the door with his body to prevent her from exiting.

Hegseth, however, denied the allegations and told investigators that the encounter had been consensual. No criminal charges were filed against him following the investigation. Nevertheless, in December 2020, Hegseth agreed to pay the woman an undisclosed sum as part of a settlement.

According to his attorney, Tim Parlatore, the decision to settle was driven by Hegseth’s concern that public disclosure of the allegations would damage his career and professional reputation.

The woman, referred to as Jane Doe in the police report, has not revealed her identity or spoken publicly about the incident.

Pete Hegseth has consistently maintained his innocence, reiterating that he was never charged in connection to the allegations and firmly denying any wrongdoing. Despite his denials, Hegseth has faced intense scrutiny in recent weeks following media reports about the 2017 incident, as well as additional accusations involving heavy drinking, mismanagement, extramarital affairs, and other controversies.

Amid mounting criticism, President-elect Donald Trump has continued to stand by Hegseth, reaffirming his confidence in the nominee for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth, for his part, has dismissed speculation about whether he might withdraw from consideration, signaling his intention to remain in the nomination process despite the ongoing controversy.