N.Y. judge could rule as soon as next month on Trump request to dismiss sex assault lawsuit
A New York judge could rule as soon as next month on whether a lawsuit accusing President Trump of sexual misconduct should go forward, potentially forcing the president to comply with a subpoena for documents in the case involving a former contestant on The Apprentice.
Lawyers have until Oct. 31 to file arguments related to Trump's request to the court to dismiss the case involving Summer Zervos. Until a ruling on the dismissal is issued, the production of any notes, emails and other materials by the Trump campaign related to Zervos has been suspended.
The subpoena was issued by Zervos' attorneys in March, according to documents filed in New York state Supreme Court.
Zervos accused Trump last October of repeated "unwanted sexual touching,'' alleging that she was "ambushed'' by Trump, and that he kissed her, touched her breast and pressed his body against her without consent.
"Ms. Zervos never consented to any of this disgusting touching,'' her attorneys claimed in court documents. "Instead, she repeatedly expressed that he should stop his inappropriate sexual behavior, including by shoving him away from her forcefully, and telling to 'get real.' "
Trump has denied the allegations, and his attorneys have argued for dismissal of the matter, asserting that a sitting president is immune from such lawsuits.
"All I can say is it's totally fake news," Trump said when he was asked about the case at a press conference Monday. "It's just fake. It's fake. It's made-up stuff, and it's disgraceful, what happens, but that happens in the -- that happens in the world of politics."
When the initial allegations were raised last year, Trump issued a written statement saying, "I vaguely remember Ms. Zervos as one of the many contestants on The Apprentice over the years. To be clear, I never met her at a hotel or greeted her inappropriately a decade ago. That is not who I am as a person, and it is not how I I've conducted my life."
Zervos' allegations came shortly after the disclosure of a 2005 audio recording from the taping of an Access Hollywood show in which Trump boasted of kissing and groping women.
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