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Piet HegsethPresident-elect Donald Trump’s choice as Secretary of Defense involved in a police investigation in an alleged sexual assault in 2017, local officials in California confirmed Thursday evening.

A spokesperson for the city government of Monterey, California, said police had been investigating “an alleged sexual assault” involving Hegseth, a Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran.

The alleged attack occurred in the early morning hours of October 8, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa address, and was reported four days later, according to the statement.

Hegseth was a speaker at a conference held at the hotel by the California Federation of Republican Women around the time the alleged attack occurred, according to photos of the event posted on Facebook.

The city’s statement did not specifically identify Hegseth as an alleged attacker but said he was involved in the investigation and that the victim’s name and age were confidential. The statement said no weapons were involved, but there were injuries — “bruises to the right thigh” — without providing further details. The city said it would not release the full police report or comment further on the investigation, citing public records laws.

Trump’s communications director described Trump’s early selections for his administration as “high caliber and extremely qualified” and defended Hegseth in a statement to CNN.

“Sir. Hegseth has strongly denied all allegations and no charges have been filed,” Trump communications director Steven Cheung said.

Members of Trump’s transition team, including new chief of staff Susie Wiles, discussed the allegation with Hegseth on Thursday and he said the investigation was related to a consensual sexual encounter. Vanity fair reported, citing two unnamed sources.

Timothy Parlatore, an attorney representing Hegseth, told Vanity Fair that “this allegation had already been investigated by the Monterey Police Department and they found no evidence of it.” Parlatore could not immediately be reached for comment by CNN.

The city’s statement did not indicate what happened to the investigation. Hegseth has not been charged in any criminal case or named as a defendant in any civil lawsuit filed in Monterey County since 2017, a district court spokesperson told CNN.