'We will not be silenced': Apprentice contestant sues Trump for defamation
The lawyer who announced a defamation action would be filed against President-elect Donald Trump on behalf of an ex-The Apprentice contestant told Sunrise exclusively that women fighting sexual assault "will not be silenced".
Before the US election, Summer Zervos accused Trump of inappropriate sexual advances as she sought his career advice at a meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Her laywer Gloria Allred said that after he was hit with accusations of sexual misconduct, Trump "knowingly, intentionally, and maliciously threw" Ms Zervos and other accusers "under the bus" and called them "liars."
More than a dozen other women also accused Trump of unwanted sexual advances, harassment or groping. He denied their claims and alleged that after the election he would sue the accusers.
Ms Zervos contended that after she contacted Trump following her stint on The Apprentice, he invited her to a 2007 meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel. But when she arrived, she was directed to his bungalow, where he attempted to force himself on her and groped her.
She said that she decided to come forward in October, after the revelation of a 2005 outtake from Access Hollywood in which Trump bragged to host Billy Bush about grabbing women by their genitals.
Ms Zervos said she filed her lawsuit on Wednesday morning in New York County Supreme Court, to restore her reputation after Trump's denials.
She said Ms Zervos is trying to regain her reputation and has been waiting for two months for Trump to retract what he said.
"Time is up," Ms Allred said.
Sunrise was the first to interview Ms Allred following a press conference to make the announcement.
"When I called on [Trump] to retract [his statement that the accusers were liars] I also called on him to assure the public and the accusers that he would not carry on his threat to sue them after the election," Ms Allred said.
Asked by David Koch why she and her client opted to file for defamation rather than sexual assault, she said she believed it was the "right ting to do".
"For the defamation claim and lawsuit, the issue is: did Mr Trump do what Ms Zervos alleged in this lawsuit that he did.
"The issue of whether he touched her - touched her breast, kissed her on the lips without her consent, or engaged in any or other conduct - will certainly be litigated in this lawsuit."
Ms Allred said she and Ms Zervos planned to take part in the Women's March on Washington on Saturday, the day after Trump's inauguration.
"We want women to be empowered. We care about women's rights. We care about the truth. Truth matters, women matter. Those who allege that they have been intimidated by inappropriate sexual conduct matter," she told Sunrise.
"Our message is 'we are going to march and be vigilant about our rights. We are going to assert our rights. We are not going to be intimidated. We are not going to be silenced by unfair, unwanted perhaps even untrue attacks on us.
"We are going to stand up, we are going to be strong. In the next four years we are going to continue to fight for justice."
Ms Allred said Ms Zervos would dismiss the lawsuit if Trump would issue a retraction for calling her a liar and saying the allegations against him were false.
Ms Zervos said at Wednesday morning's press conference that she wasn't seeking monetary damages and simply wanted Trump to retract what he said about her.
"Since Mr Trump has not issued a retraction he has therefore left me with no alternative other than to sue him in order to vindicate my reputation," she said.
Ms Allred said she expected Trump's lawyers to attempt to dismiss the case or delay it.
"I would like to be mistaken and have the President-elect do the right thing," she said.
There was no immediate comment from Trump's transition team.
