10 Times Donald Trump Has Been Accused of Sexual Harassment—or Worse


1. Natasha Stoynoff, writer for People
Natasha Stoynoff was on assignment for People interviewing Trump and wife Melania to mark their one-year anniversary in 2005. In her essay published by People, Stoynoff claims that Trump pushed her against a wall and forcibly kissed her when his then-pregnant wife had left the room. Stoynoff writes that Trump then told her they were going to have an affair. “In those few minutes alone with Trump, my self-esteem crashed to zero. How could the actions of one man make me feel so utterly violated?” she wrote. At a rally in Florida, Trump responded to the comments by calling them “totally and absolutely false” and then saying, “Take a look—you take a look, look at her, look at her words, you tell me what you think—I don’t think so. I don’t think so.” 

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2. Jessica Leeds, seatmate on a first class flight
Jessica Leeds, now 74, told The New York Times about an incident that she says occurred over 30 years ago when she was seated next to Trump in the first-class cabin on a flight to New York. Leeds alleges that Trump groped her breasts and tried to put his hand up her skirt mid-flight, causing her to flee to the back of the plane. “He was like an octopus, his hands were everywhere,” she said. “It was an assault.” In response, Trump has said he plans to take legal action against the Times for defamation. 

3. Rachel Crooks, receptionist at Trump Tower
The same New York Times report also detailed allegations from a former receptionist at Trump Tower in Manhattan who claims that when she introduced herself to Trump outside an elevator in the building, he refused to let her go after they shook hands. Instead, he allegedly started kissing her cheeks and then “kissed me directly on the mouth.” “It was so inappropriate,” she said. “I was so upset that he thought I was so insignificant that he could do that.” Trump has also denied these claims. 

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4. Temple Taggart McDowell, former Miss USA contestant
Temple Taggart McDowell, who represented Utah in the 1997 Miss USA pageant, has said repeatedly that the Republican nominee kissed her on the lips at least twice without her permission when she was 21, according to NBC News. Trump has called the allegation “ridiculous.” 

5. Former Miss Teen USA contestants
Five former Miss Teen USA 1997 contestants also reported that Trump walked in on them changing—and some of them were as young as 15 years old at the time, according to a report from BuzzFeed News. Buzzfeed reports that the Trump Organization did not respond to requests for comment and that The Miss Universe Organization declined to comment. 

6. Cassandra Searles, Miss Washington USA
Another former contestant in Trump’s Miss Universe franchise took to Facebook to detail how Trump “treated us like cattle,” tagging her fellow competitors from 2013. According to a report from Rolling Stone, Searles, who competed as Miss Washington USA, also added a comment to her post that said: “He probably doesn’t want me telling the story about how he continually grabbed my ass and invited me to his hotel room.” The Trump campaign released a statement to Rolling Stone categorically denying all of these allegations.

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7. Mindy McGillivray, guest at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort
The Palm Beach Post reported the story of a woman who was a guest at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort 13 years ago. Mindy McGillivray, 23 at the time, alleged that Trump grabbed her butt while he was standing next to his then-fiancée, Melania. Trump has not publicly responded to these allegations. 

8. Jill Harth, makeup artist
In 1997, makeup artist Jill Harth filed a lawsuit against Trump for “an episode her lawyers describe in the lawsuit as ‘attempted rape,’” reports The Guardian. The suit recounts a 1993 incident in which Harth alleges that Trump pulled her into his daughter’s bedroom while she visited his Mar-a-Lago resort on business. She also says he kept up a steady string of sexual advances. Trump denies the claims.

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9. Vendela Kirsebom, Swedish model
In 1993, Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter brought Trump to the White House Correspondents’ dinner as his guest. According to an editorial written by Carter for Vanity Fair, Trump reportedly spent the night harassing model Vendela. Carter alleges Trump was, “assaying the ‘tits’ and legs of the other female guests and asking how they measured up to those of other women, including his wife.” It got so bad the model allegedly went to Carter in tears, begging to be kept away from him, calling Trump “the most vulgar man I have ever met.” Trump has not publicly responded to these claims. 

10. Jane Doe, alleged rape victim
Among the more serious claims being levied at the Republican presidential nominee is a 1994 accusation that he allegedly raped a 13-year-old girl at a party hosted by convicted pedophile Jeffery Epstein. According to a report from BuzzFeed News, the lawsuit features the testimony of the unnamed victim and two corroborating witnesses. “I would say the same thing I’ve said a million times. The allegations are reckless, irresponsible, and categorically untrue,” Trump attorney Alan Garten responded.