Amid Republican claims of “anonymous smears,” a named person — and a Hegseth, at that — accuses the defense secretary nominee of abusive behavior.

Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he paid $50,000 as part of a confidentiality agreement to a woman who alleged he sexually assaulted her,

Pete Hegseth revealed to the Senate Armed Services Committee that he paid $50,000 to a woman who accused him of sexual assault. Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Defense shared the details of his settlement with the unnamed accuser in a letter that was obtained by CNN.