of Donald Trump Cabinet pictures aren’t exactly strangers to controversy, but Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s alleged past is already forcing the president-elect’s transition team into damage control.

According to public records in 2017, Hegseth, a former member of the military and current Fox News host, was investigated for an alleged sexual assault in Monterey, California.

City of Monterey confirmed that a police report was made implicating Hegseth and refused to provide details beyond those required by the California Public Records Act. The information provided indicated that the “Monterey Police Department investigated an alleged sexual assault” that occurred in the early morning hours of October 8, 2017 at 1 Old Golf Course Road.

The name of the alleged victim was not released by Monterey officials, but the records request noted that the victim reported “contusions to (right thigh)” and that no weapons were involved in the attack.

In a statement given to Vanity FairTrump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, said Hegseth “vehemently denied all allegations and no charges have been filed.”

Despite the denials, the allegation has raised concerns among Trump’s transition team. According to the sources they spoke with Vanity FairTrump’s campaign manager and future White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, was informed of the allegation against Hegseth earlier this week and was concerned enough to meet with Hegseth and Trump’s lawyers the second day. Hegseth argued that the police report resulted from a consensual encounter and “characterized the episode as he said, she said.”

Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy Parlatore, said Vanity Fair that “the allegation has already been investigated by the Monterey Police Department and they have found no evidence for it.”

The appointment of the longtime Fox News host to head the Defense Department was one of a string of choices that indicate the president-elect is prioritizing blind loyalty and ideological extremism in his inner circle.

Hegseth served in Iraq and Afghanistan but has no government experience and is best known for his years of firmness and public advocacy for Trump as host of The fox and friendsthe president-elect’s morning show of preference.

The man who could lead the Pentagon previously advocated a ‘preemptive strike’ against North Korea, the accused defended war criminals and members of Blackwateras well as advocated for elimination of women from combat roles in the military.

Trump, who for weeks in the campaign played clips from Full metal jacket to present his idealized version of the army, he chose Hegseth to show his desire to “re-awaken” the army.

In July, Hegseth he told Fox News viewers that America needs “a new commander in chief to get rid of all this CRT, DEI, all gender nonsense.”

More from Rolling Stone

The best of Rolling Stone

Sign up for The RollingStone newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram.