Donald Trump’s embattled defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth paid $50,000 to a woman who accused him of sexual assault, according to files from Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office. 

The 44-year-old former Fox News host, was investigated for an alleged sexual assault in 2017, but no charges were filed.

But answers he provided to the Massachusetts Democrat as a part of the vetting process show evidence of the payment, the Associated Press reported after reviewing Warren’s material. 

It is one of the multiple allegations he and Republicans have dismissed as smears while he battles to lead the Pentagon. 

His nomination cleared a pivotal hurdle on Thursday as the Senate advanced his bid to a full floor vote.

That $50,000 payment, which has only now come to light hours before his confirmation vote, was not brought up during the defense secretary nominee’s confirmation hearing last week. 

The alleged incident took place in the early morning hours of Oct. 8, 2017, at the address of the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa in Monterey, California, the city said in a statement. 

The police department investigated ‘an alleged sexual assault’ involving Hegseth, a Army National Guard veteran, that was reported four days later, according to the statement. The victim’s name and age are confidential and Hegseth was divorced from his second wife at the time of the alleged incident.

US Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth (L) and wife Jennifer Rauchet attend the Commander-In-Chief inaugural ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025

Multiple reported allegations have been made against Hegseth just before his confirmation vote

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced Thursday she is not for Hegseth 

Hegseth testified before Congress he was fully investigated and completely cleared of wrongdoing last week during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. 

Though the staggering $50,000 payment may concern lawmakers who are already viewing Trump’s selection with plenty of skepticism. 

Trump’s selection has been slammed with a barrage of allegations, ranging from alcohol abuse to poor business management and more. 

Though he did pass onto the next phase of his confirmation process by a razor-slim party-line margin 51 – 49.

On the eve of his facing his final vote, which will likely take place Friday evening, the father of seven has been hit with a slurry of obstacles. 

On Thursday two Republican senators came out against Hegseth’s nomination, immediately imperiling his chances severely. 

Hegseth needs 51 votes in the Senate to be confirmed as the Secretary of Defense.

If he only gets 50, Vice President J.D. Vance would need to brought in to make the tie-breaking vote. 

Trump said he was not surprised by the pushback against Hegseth

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be U.S. Defense Secretary walks with his wife Jennifer Rauchet in the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 11, 2024.

Sen. Mitch McConnell leaves the Senate floor after a narrow vote passed Hegseth onto the next round of votes 

Republicans hold a 53 – 47 majority in the chamber, but with two GOP ‘no’ votes, the standings paint a grim picture for the Pentagon nominee. 

Hegseth has strenuously denied the allegations, calling them nothing more than a smear against a veteran who wants to transform the U.S. military.

And Trump still believes his pick will get through the nomination process because he wasn’t ‘surprised’ by the opposition of the two Senators. 

Reacting to the news of the GOP ‘no’ votes, President Trump said they were ‘no surprises.’

‘Democrats are just delaying, they always delay,’ he said of his nominees before floating a controversial maneuver to more quickly get his people confirmed called recess appointed. 

Earlier this week testimony from Hegseth’s brother’s ex-wife surfaced, condemning the nominee. Hegseth’s aides and legal team shot down those claims, calling them bogus.

His supporters in the GOP have also accused Democrats of using the same tactics deployed against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his fraught nomination process.

The final test for Hegseth will be whether he can garner 51 votes Friday evening around 9 pm local time.