A New York state judge has ruled that a defamation lawsuit filed against Donald Trump by a former contestant on his reality show 'The Apprentice' can proceed, rejecting the president's bid to dismiss the case. Justice Jennifer Schecter of the Manhattan Supreme Court stated on Tuesday that there is 'absolutely no authority' to dismiss or stay the civil suit brought by Summer Zervos, as it relates to 'purely unofficial conduct' from before Trump became president.
Zervos alleges that Trump made unwanted sexual advances toward her during a 2007 meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel, including groping her breast. She filed the defamation suit in January 2017 after Trump called her claims 'total fiction' and 'all false stuff' during his presidential campaign. The ruling raises the possibility of Trump being forced to answer questions under oath and hand over documents related to his behaviour toward women.
In her decision, Justice Schecter wrote: 'A sitting president is not immune from being sued in federal court for unofficial acts. No one is above the law.' Trump's lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, had argued that the US Constitution prevents states from exercising control over the president, citing the Paula Jones case against Bill Clinton. However, the judge found that precedent did not apply to unofficial conduct.
Zervos is one of several women who accused Trump of sexual misconduct after a 2005 videotape emerged in which he boasted about groping women. Trump has denied all allegations and threatened to sue his accusers. The case will now proceed to discovery, potentially leading to further public scrutiny of the claims against him.
