Trump transition: Speaker Mike Johnson urges House Ethics Committee not to release Matt Gaetz report

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, was part of an investigation into alleged sexual assault in 2017, officials in Monterey, California, said in a statement overnight. Trump's transition team was made aware of the incident earlier this week, after Trump announced him as his choice, a source told ABC News.

Monterey city officials said in their press statement that police investigated a "sexual assault" that allegedly occurred in the early morning hours of Oct. 8, 2017, at a Hyatt Regency. The incident did not involve a weapon, but the victim allegedly suffered "contusions to right thigh."

Hegseth is not identified in the city's statement as the alleged assailant. The victim's name and age are listed as "confidential."

A police report was filed days later, on Oct. 12. It was not immediately clear whether any charges were filed. A Monterey Superior Court spokesperson told ABC News on Thursday they had no records on file with Hegseth's name as a party.

Tim Parlatore, an attorney for Hegseth, told ABC News. "This incident was fully investigated and Mr. Hegseth was cleared of any wrongdoing. It should have no effect on the confirmation process."

Monterey officials said the statement came in response to "numerous inquiries" from the media, including ABC News, and they would not be making "any other remarks related to this inquiry."

ABC News has reached out to the Trump transition for comment.

Vice President-elect JD Vance has already been working the phones reaching out to senators trying to gauge support for Matt Gaetz -- who Trump named for the attorney general role, according to three sources with knowledge of the calls.

Matt Gaetz has also been making calls to senators, sources said.

The calls from Vance underscore ABC News' reporting that he is expected to be the "eyes and ears" for Trump in Congress.

Also, the House Ethics Committee, which sources said was preparing to meet this week to deliberate over whether to release a final report on Gaetz -- is not expected to meet Friday, per two sources.

Trump made another cabinet announcement Thursday evening, saying North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will be tapped to be the Secretary of the Interior.

Speaking of energy policy, Trump said, "We're going to slash energy costs. We're going to get your energy bills in half, and that's going to bring down the cost."

Teasing the announcement, which he said will formally come Friday, Trump revealed Burgum will lead the Department of the Interior.

"He's going to head the Department of Interior and he's going to be fantastic," Trump said.

During his address at the America First Policy Institute's annual gala, Trump praised his newly announced cabinet members, Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard and Vivek Ramaswamy.

"He launched a rocket three weeks ago, and then he went to Pennsylvania to campaign because he considered this more important than launching rockets that cost billions of dollars. Elon Musk, what a job he does," Trump said of Musk, who he appointed to spearhead the new Department of Government Efficiency with Ramaswamy.

Speaking of RFK Jr., who was tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Trump said, "I guess if you like health and if you like people that live a long time, it's the most important position."