Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defensepreviously faced allegations of sexual misconduct that were investigated by police, according to a report.

Susie Wiles, Trump’s newly appointed White House chief of staff was informed Wednesday night of an allegation that Hegseth engaged in sexual misconduct in Monterey, Calif., seven years ago, according to Vanity Fair.

Attorneys for Wiles and Trump spoke Hegseth after learning of the alleged incident, Vanity Fair added. The Fox News host said the incident was consensual.

“This allegation has already been investigated by the Monterey Police Department and they have found no evidence for it,” Hegseth’s attorney told the media.

Hegseth, 44, served tours with the Army National Guard in Guantánamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan. He joined Fox News as a contributor in 2014 and co-host of “Fox & Friends”.

Trump announced he wanted Hegseth to lead the Defense Department on Tuesday, a day before the team became aware of the sexual misconduct allegation.

Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, said Hegseth “vehemently denied all allegations and no charges have been filed.

“We look forward to his confirmation as United States Secretary of Defense so he can begin on day one to make America safe and great again,” Cheung said. Vanity Fair.

The Independent has reached out to Hegseth’s attorney and the Trump campaign for comment.

Controversial comments made by Hegseth have come under scrutiny since his nomination was announced, including his recent claim that women should not serve in combat roles in the military.

“I’m just saying straight up that we shouldn’t have women in combat roles,” Hegseth said in an interview that aired last week. “It didn’t make us more efficient, it didn’t make us more lethal, it didn’t make our fight more complicated.”

“We’ve all served with women and they’re great,” he added. “But it’s just that our institutions don’t have to encourage that in places where traditionally … throughout human history, men in those positions are more capable.”

Footage resurfaced from a Fox News broadcast in 2019 broadcasts Hegseth revealed that he hasn’t washed his hands in a decade because “germs aren’t a real thing.”

Hegseth then falsely claimed that germs do not exist because they cannot be seen with the naked eye.