The legal professional mentioned the accuser is now not sure to the authorized settlement, which as been breached, and is free to talking publicly if she chooses.
The lawyer for Secretary of Protection nominee Pete Hegseth mentioned on Dec. 5 that his consumer’s sexual assault accuser may face civil extortion and defamation lawsuits if he’s not confirmed for the place by the Senate.
Tim Parlatore advised CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Thursday that the lady who accused Hegseth of sexual assault is free to talk about the incident publicly now that her settlement settlement with the protection nominee is breached, however that doing so may put her in authorized jeopardy if “she doesn’t inform the reality.”
“If she repeats these false statements, then she will probably be topic to a defamation lawsuit,” Parlatore mentioned.
“Fairly frankly, with the violation of the settlement, if he’s not confirmed as a Secretary of Protection, we should still carry a civil extortion declare in opposition to her.”
In subsequent interviews with the police, the lady, who glided by Jane Doe, mentioned she remembered being in a lodge room with Hegseth and that he allegedly took her telephone and blocked the door to forestall her from leaving, in keeping with the supplemental accounts within the police report. She later accused Hegseth of rape.
Hegseth, who was till just lately a bunch on Fox Information, has denied the allegations and mentioned he had a consensual affair. He accused the lady of constructing up the story as a result of she regretted dishonest on her husband, who had attended the convention together with her and was staying in the identical lodge that evening.
The allegations surfaced in November after Trump nominated Hegseth to steer the Division of Protection.
Parlatore additionally mentioned that Hegseth had acquired background verify varieties from the FBI on Wednesday and that “we’re engaged on them proper now.” He additionally confirmed that an worker grievance from Hegseth’s time at Fox Information will probably be made obtainable to the Senate Armed Providers Committee if requested.
Parlatore advised The Epoch Instances on Friday {that a} defamation lawsuit continues to be attainable if the Senate confirms Hegseth if the accuser makes any false statements publicly however that damages would enhance if he loses the affirmation.
“If she needs to return out and inform the reality, I’ve no downside with that,” he mentioned. “I don’t suppose she would, I believe it could be very inadvisable for her to, and I’ve no indication that she intends to.”
After Parlatore spoke with CNN, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) accused the legal professional of witness intimidation, which Parlatore described as a authorized misinterpretation.
“There’s nothing mistaken with saying if somebody intends to interrupt the regulation, that they are going to be held accountable,” Parlatore advised The Epoch Instances, explaining that witness intimidation can be threatening somebody from offering “truthful testimony” since each he and Hegseth keep that the lady’s story is fake.
“It’s a big authorized distinction,” he added.
Parlatore beforehand represented President-elect Donald Trump in his labeled paperwork case, which was dismissed by U.S. District Choose Aileen Cannon earlier this yr.
Timothy Parlatore, managing accomplice at Parlatore Legislation Group in Arlington, Va., on Feb. 29, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Instances
The legal professional recommended that the accuser write a letter to the Senate saying she ”made a mistake” with the accusations and that her id would stay hid.
“It might go a protracted method to resolving every part,” Parlatore mentioned.
Hegseth has dedicated to staying in competition because the protection secretary, and Trump has defended the previous host amid latest scrutiny. Hegseth additionally confronted allegations of extreme consuming and improper sexual conduct at two veterans teams he used to work for.
A 2018 e mail from his mom, Penelope Hegseth, was just lately leaked, wherein she accused him of mistreating ladies. For the reason that launch, she has appeared on Fox Information to defend her son. She mentioned she had despatched a follow-up e mail apologizing for her preliminary declare.