Hegseth has maintained that a 2017 encounter was consensual but paid the unnamed woman as part of a nondisclosure agreement.

New details emerged over the weekend about a 2017 sexual assault allegation against President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Defense Department, Fox News host Pete Hegseth—and while Hegseth has admitted through his lawyer to paying his accuser in a settlement, he vehemently denies the allegations, and Trump is reportedly standing by him.

Trump has indicated that the revelations about the accuser and payment have not deterred him from Hegseth's selection as defense secretary.