Ex-‘Apprentice’ Contestant’s Defamation Case Against Trump Moves Forward

Summer Zervos says Trump has maligned her reputation by calling her a liar

Donald Trump Summer Zervos

A New York Judge said Tuesday that a defamation lawsuit against President Trump, alleging that he sexually harassed a former “Apprentice” contestant, may go forward, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.

Summer Zervos, a former contestant on the NBC hit reality show, accused Trump last year of sexually assaulting her in 2007. Trump has denied any wrongdoing, calling Zervos’ and another women’s accusations “total fiction” and “all false stuff” during a 2016 campaign rally.

While the statute of limitations for this case has since expired, Zervos and her lawyer, civil rights attorney Gloria Allred, are suing for defamation, arguing that Trump maligned her reputation by calling her a liar.

Trump tried to block her suit. But the judge disagreed with the president’s legal team, saying that “a sitting president is not immune from being sued in federal court for unofficial acts.”

The judge gave the president’s lawyers 10 days to respond.

Zervos said that Trump kissed her aggressively on the lips during a meeting in New York City and another time in Beverly Hills. She also said that he touched her breast.

The judge’s ruling comes as the president is being dogged by reports of an alleged affair with Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, as well as former Playboy model Karen McDougal. Both said that they had a sexual relationship with Trump in 2006.

The White House did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.

Comments