Hegseth paid a woman who accused him of sexual assault to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit, according to his lawyer.

Police in California have confirmed they investigated an alleged sexual assault involving Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump ’s pick for defense secretary. The incident allegedly took place about two months after Hegseth, a family values Christian, had a baby daughter with his mistress at the time, former Fox producer Jennifer Rauchet.

Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host who has been nominated by president-elect Donald Trump to lead the Department of Defense, was accused of sexual assault in 2017 in California, in an incident that has come to light in the past two days. The alleged assault was first reported by Vanity Fair on Thursday.