Pentagon choice paid woman who alleged sex assault

US President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Department of Defence, Mr Pete Hegseth, paid a woman who had accused him of sexual assault as part of a settlement agreement with a confidentiality clause, but Mr Hegseth insists it was a consensual encounter, his lawyer said on Nov 16.

The Trump transition team was only recently alerted to the payment by Mr Hegseth, a Fox News commentator and a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The payment was reported earlier by The Washington Post.

Mr Hegseth's lawyer, Mr Timothy Parlatore, said his client had done nothing wrong.

"Mr Hegseth is completely innocent," Mr Parlatore said. "Not only did she take advantage of him, but we believe she then extorted him, knowing that at the height of the #MeToo movement, the mere public allegation would likely result in his immediate termination from Fox News."