bbc.com

Trump's Defense Pick Paid Accuser to Stay Quiet

President-elect Trump's nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, paid a woman who accused him of sexual assault to avoid a lawsuit that could have jeopardized his Fox News job. He denies wrongdoing.

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PoliticsMilitaryTrump AdministrationSexual AssaultFox NewsSettlement

Fox NewsMonterey Police DepartmentTrump's Transition TeamUs SenateCbs NewsBbc

Donald TrumpPete HegsethTimothy ParlatoreSteven Cheung

What are the allegations against Pete Hegseth?: Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, paid a woman who accused him of sexual assault to prevent a lawsuit that could have cost him his job at Fox News.
What actions did Hegseth and his lawyer take in response to the allegations?: Hegseth's lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, told CBS News that the settlement was made to avoid a "horror storm" that could have led to Hegseth's termination from Fox News. The encounter, Hegseth maintains, was consensual.
What is the current status of Hegseth's nomination for Secretary of Defense?: The woman filed a police complaint in 2017, alleging assault at a hotel. Parlatore says there is evidence contradicting the claim and that the woman made "false claims" and threatened to sue two years later. The allegation hasn't prompted Trump to reconsider his nomination.

Cognitive Concepts

3/5

Framing Bias

The article frames the story from Hegseth's perspective, emphasizing his denials and his lawyer's explanations, which potentially minimizes the severity of the sexual assault allegation and the accuser's experience.

2/5

Language Bias

The article uses terms like "horror storm" to describe the potential consequences of a lawsuit, while using more neutral language when referring to the sexual assault allegation itself, which might unintentionally downplay the seriousness of the claim.

3/5

Bias by Omission

The article focuses heavily on Hegseth's lawyer's statements and downplays the accuser's perspective, potentially omitting key details supporting her claim. This could lead readers to undervalue the seriousness of the allegation.

2/5

False Dichotomy

The article presents a false dichotomy by framing the situation as either Hegseth is guilty or the accuser is making false claims, ignoring the possibility of other interpretations or complexities of the situation.

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