Donald Trump could face questioning by next year in defamation suit by ‘Apprentice’ contestant Summer Zervos
A judge in New York set a January 31 deadline that could make Trump answer questions under oath
US President Donald Trump could be made to answer questions under oath by early next year in a former Apprentice contestant’s defamation suit, a judge announced on Tuesday, while his lawyers pushed back against demands for information on his campaign’s discussions about other women who also accused him of sexual misconduct.
Trump’s legal team continues to try to get Summer Zervos’ defamation lawsuit dismissed or delayed until after his presidency. But at least for now, it’s moving into an information-gathering phase that could involve key disclosures – and put both Trump and Zervos under questioning by each other’s lawyers.
Zervos accuses Trump of defaming her by calling her a liar after she accused him of groping her breasts, kissing her and thrusting his genitals at her without her permission.
Her lawyers have already issued subpoenas seeking a range of information, including any records concerning his 2016 campaign’s responses to Zervos’ and other women’s accusations of inappropriate sexual behaviour. Trump has vehemently denied them all as made-up.
At a court hearing Tuesday, Trump lawyer Marc Kasowitz said the campaign should not have to turn over any material about other women. It’s “irrelevant”, he said.