New York-based writer and long-time women's advice columnist, E Jean Carroll, in a new book 'What Do We Need Men For?' said that US President Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in a dressing room of the Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York City in the mid-1990s. The charge has been denied by the President who described it as fake news. He went on to say that he never ever met Carroll.
Carroll, however does not name Trump in the account. But he is named in the headline which is, "Hideous Men Donald Trump assaulted me in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room 23 years ago. But he's not alone on the list of awful men in my life."
Excerpts of the upcoming book were initially published on the website of New York magazine.
“The moment the dressing-room door is closed, he lunges at me, pushes me against the wall, hitting my head quite badly, and puts his mouth against my lips,” she recalls, in the memoir. It describes how Carroll ran into Trump at the store, where, after recognising each other initially, exchanged friendly banter, after which he became violent and forced himself on her.
Carroll, is among 16 women who have publicly accused Trump of sexual misconduct over the past several decades. Most spoke out just weeks before the 2016 election.
"Regarding the 'story' by E Jean Carroll, claiming she once encountered me at Bergdorf Goodman 23 years ago. I've never met this person in my life. She is trying to sell a new book that should indicate her motivation. It should be sold in the fiction section," Trump said.
"Shame on those who make up false stories of assault to try to get publicity for themselves, or sell a book, or carry out a political agenda like Julie Swetnick who falsely accused Justice Brett Kavanaugh."
He questioned why there was no video footage of the incident or witnesses in the store.
"Ms. Carroll; New York Magazine: No pictures? No surveillance? No video? No reports? No sales attendants around?? I would like to thank Bergdorf Goodman for confirming they have no video footage of any such incident, because it never happened," he said.
"If anyone has information that the Democratic Party is working with Ms Carroll or New York Magazine, please notify us as soon as possible. The world should know what's really going on. It is a disgrace and people should pay dearly for such false accusations," Trump said. Carroll said that she never reported the incident, but confided in two close friends.
Alva Johnson, a former White House employee, said earlier this year that the president grabbed her hand and kissed her without her consent ahead of a campaign rally in Tampa. She has filed a lawsuit. Amidst the accusations that came up against Trump while he was campaigning for the 2016 elections, a video surfaced that showed him saying he was able to grab women "by the p**sy" because he was famous.
After a huge hue and cry by Republicans, Trump issued an apology and said that it was nothing but “locker room banter”.
— With inputs from PTI
