Pete Hegseth entered into a plea deal with the woman who accused him of sexual assault because he knew the accusation could get him fired from Fox News, his lawyer said.

Last week it emerged that Hegseth, president-elect Donald TrumpHis choice to lead the Department of Defense was under investigation for sexual assault in California seven years ago. No charges have been filed and Hegseth “vehemently denied any allegations,” Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said. Vanity Fair.

It has since been revealed that in 2023, Hegseth entered into a mutual non-disclosure agreement with the accuser, which included paying him an undisclosed sum, The Washington Post reported, citing a statement from Hegseth’s attorney, Tim Parlatore.

“Hegseth felt strongly that he was the victim of blackmail,” Parlatore said, so he “ultimately decided to settle for a significantly reduced amount” because he knew that disclosure “would result in his immediate termination from Fox.”

“Mr. Hegseth is completely innocent,” Parlatore said Saturday. resulted in his immediate termination from Fox News.”

The city of Monterey, California, confirmed in a press release Thursday that it was investigating Hegseth for sexual assault.

It was said to have been an incident involving Hegseth reported to have occurred between 11:59 PM on October 7, 2017 and 7 AM the following morning at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa at Del Monte Golf Course. It was reported to the police on October 12, 2017.

“The Monterey Police Department investigated an alleged sexual assault at 1 Old Golf Course Road,” the city said in the statement. It said the victim’s name was withheld and no weapons were involved, but there were “contusions to the right thigh.”

This came after Vanity Fair reported earlier Thursday that Trump’s transition team learned of a sexual misconduct allegation against Hegseth late Wednesday, citing unnamed sources.

According to the magazine, Trump’s future chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and Trump’s lawyers spoke with Hegseth about the situation.

Parlatore insisted the meeting was consensual and said The Washington Post that the accuser is “lying to keep her marriage intact.”

Newsweek reached out to Parlatore via email outside normal business hours for further comment.

News of the accusation comes after surprise at Hegseth’s appointment among some republicans and some in military circles.

Hegseth served in the Minnesota National Guard and served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a platoon leader and civil-military operations officer. Later he became a Fox News commentator. If his appointment is confirmed by Senatewould replace Hegseth Lloyd Austina retired four-star general.

Hegseth called for a purge of “woke” military leaders, argued that women should not serve in combat roles and advocated pardoning service members accused of war crimes.