An investigation into allegations of sexual assault was conducted on Trump's Petagon

In a statement issued Thursday night, Monterey, California city officials said they had looked into a reported sexual assault that occurred at a hotel in the seaside city in October 2017.

Other than a report of alleged sexual assault that was made four days after the alleged occurrence at the hotel, the statement didn't provide many details. The complainant experienced "contusions to right thigh," according to the police report, but no property or weapons were used.

Officials stated, "The City of Monterey will not be making any additional remarks regarding this inquiry."

Vanity Fair magazine was the first to report on the investigation.

In the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, Hegseth will be subject to hearings and a confirmation vote with Trump's other cabinet nominees.

"President Trump is nominating high-caliber and in the Pentagon.

Trump's 'anti-woke' defence strategy is unexpected. Here's why Trump selected Fox News anchor Pete Hegseth to be his military secretary, Washington
The 44-year-old Hegseth has expressed disapproval of diversity initiatives and women serving in combat roles in the military.

Any "general, admiral, whatever that was involved in any of the DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] woke [expletive]" need to be dismissed, he stated in a recent podcast.

Additionally, he asserted that women shouldn't go into battle because doing so hasn't made the military "more effective" or "more lethal."

"Over human history, men in those positions are more capable," he stated.

During Joe Biden's inauguration, Hegseth, a member of the Minnesota National Guard, was prevented from acting as an officer in Washington, DC. exceptionally competent persons to serve in his Administration," Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said. "Mr. Hegseth has vehemently refuted all allegations, and no charges were brought against him."

Hegseth will have to make choices at the Pentagon over matters like military help for Israel during its fight in Gaza and support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion if the US Senate confirms his appointment.

With a budget of around $900 billion (£708 billion), the US Defence Department employs 2.9 million military personnel and civilians worldwide.

He is a conservative culture warrior who has promised to overhaul the military, but his business background has drawn criticism, despite his supporters' claims that he will bring about change in 2021.

In a book published earlier this year he said he was turned down for the duty because of his tattoos including a Jerusalem Cross and another which reads "Deus Vult" – Latin for "God wills it".

Both the cross and the phrase were used by Christian warriors during the Crusades. In modern times they've been used by right-wing Christians and Christian nationalists – but also by extremist and neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups, according to researchers. Hegseth has denied any connection to extremists.

Hegseth has seven children including a daughter born in August 2017 with Jennifer Rauchet, a Fox producer with whom he was reportedly having an extramarital affair. He later married Rauchet, his third wife.

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