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Pete Hegseth’s lawyer has warned of a potential extortion lawsuit against his client’s sexual assault accuser if Hegseth’s nomination as Secretary of Defense is not confirmed.

Attorney Tim Parlatore told CNN that while the woman accusing Hegseth of sexual assault may not have committed criminal extortion, she could face a civil extortion case if Hegseth decides to pursue legal action.

“It was something we were considering at the time,” he told the outlet, referencing to when the accuser was planning to file a lawsuit in 2020 before a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) was signed, The Hill reported. “Quite frankly, with the violation of the agreement, if he is not confirmed as secretary of defense, we may still bring a civil extortion claim against her.”

Hegseth faces allegations of sexual assault stemming from an incident in 2017 when he was the keynote speaker at a Republican conference in Monterey, California.

According to police records from the time, the woman claimed she met Hegseth at an after-party but remembered little of the night, except waking up in a hotel room with him. She alleged that Hegseth took her phone and blocked her from leaving, and she believes she was raped and possibly drugged. However, no charges were filed in the case.

Hegseth has denied the allegations, asserting that the encounter was a consensual affair with a woman who later regretted cheating on her husband. Through his lawyer, he stated that he signed a nondisclosure agreement because the allegations surfaced during the height of the #MeToo movement, The Hill added.

By taking her accusations public after Hegseth was nominated to be defense secretary, that would appear to be a direct violation of the agreement, the attorney said.

Parlatore told CNN that the woman’s false claim was “put out in violation of a settlement agreement.”

If that “causes him to lose his future employment opportunities, then yes, that is something that is worth bringing a lawsuit against,” the attorney said, adding that the agreement is no longer valid because it has “been breached” by the accuser.

A subsequent report by NBC News citing several “anonymous” sources further claimed that Hegseth is a problem drinker and would often show up to work at Fox News tipsy or smelling of alcohol. Not only has he denied those allegations, but more than a dozen former co-workers, frequent contributors, and guests to “Fox & Friends Weekend” vehemently denied them as well, with several complaining that NBC never bothered to contact those who worked the most with Hegseth for comment.

“Bullshit. 100 percent bullshit. Actually…horseshit,” “Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Will Cain said on X.

“I was not contacted by anyone at @NBCNews. And no one had closer proximity on a continuous basis. Well…maybe @RCamposDuffy since she sat between us!” he said in another post.

“Worth repeating, @NBCNews used “anonymous” sources & unconfirmed stories to smear @PeteHegseth as a drunk on the job & never once asked his FOX & Friends coworkers who sit right next to him??? Don’t forget, @MSNBC started on day one of his nomination by saying he was a known racist/white supremicist – crazy, I know, but again never asking the Hispanic woman who works with him either. I would know if Pete was racist. This is why Americans hate the media & politics. It’s why they voted for Trump who withstood every smear in the book – including being accused of TREASON. Keep fighting, Pete. America is behind you,” his other cohost, Rachel Campos Duffy said.

“I’ve guest co-hosted with him numerous times before. Not once did this happen. Not once have I heard this from others. This is such a disgusting and false smear. It is wrong and malicious,” fellow Fox News host Lisa Marie Boothe said.

“Add me to the list. It’s ridiculous bullshit,” Clay Travis said.

“I’ve co-hosted with Pete and have never experienced anything like what was claimed in this anonymously-sourced report,” another cohost, Guy Benson, said.

The post Hegseth’s Attorney Threatens Extortion Lawsuit Against Female Accuser appeared first on Conservative Brief.