Kelly Discusses Allegation Made Against Trump Nomination
The nomination of Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense by President-elect Donald Trump has drawn significant attention, particularly in light of a 2017 sexual assault accusation that resurfaced with the release of a police report this week. Journalist and attorney Megyn Kelly delved deeply into the allegations on The Megyn Kelly Show Friday, scrutinizing the police report in detail and concluding that the accusations lack credibility.
The report outlines claims by an unnamed woman who alleged that Hegseth, a decorated combat veteran and former Fox News host, assaulted her in a hotel room. Hegseth has maintained that the encounter was consensual, and law enforcement declined to pursue charges after a thorough investigation.
Kelly highlighted key details from the report, focusing on text messages exchanged between the accuser and an unnamed individual, presumed to be her husband. The messages abruptly ceased while the woman was in Hegseth’s hotel room, prompting her husband to question her whereabouts.
The woman later claimed she had “fallen asleep,” a story she allegedly confided to Hegseth beforehand as a way to explain her absence. Kelly argued that this inconsistency likely contributed to the authorities’ decision not to move forward with charges.
“That’s it right there, folks,” Kelly told her audience. “The cops are looking at these text messages.” She emphasized that the timeline, lack of signs of intoxication, and the accuser’s behavior did not support her claims of assault. Security footage and witness accounts described the woman as sober and composed during the evening in question.
Kelly further noted the accuser’s refusal to participate in a pretextual conversation with Hegseth, a standard investigative step to gather evidence. This refusal, she suggested, might indicate that the accuser was unwilling to face questions that could undermine her story.
Adding to the complexity, the police report detailed a medical issue, bacterial vaginosis (BV), which arose after the encounter and became a point of contention between the accuser and her husband. Kelly explained that this detail, while personal, underscores the accuser’s panic about the implications of her actions and potential marital fallout.
Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy Parlatore, reinforced his client’s stance, stating, “This police report confirms what I’ve said all along, that the incident was fully investigated, and police found the allegations to be false, which is why no charges were filed.”
Kelly concluded her analysis with a strong statement: “This woman was not raped. This is a bullshit accusation.” Her commentary echoes Hegseth’s assertion that the encounter was consensual and that the allegations are unfounded.