Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters), – A former U.S. president Donald Trump has rejected an accusation that he tried to avoid being questioned by a defendant in a defamation suit brought against him by a contestant from “The Apprentice”, who claimed he sexually assaulted the woman.

Trump claimed that Summer Zervos, his accuser, used delay tactics to stop him deposing by an order of the New York State court in Manhattan.

Zervos lawyers did not respond immediately to inquiries for comment.

Zervos accuses Trump of damaging her reputation. She claims that Trump lied to her by accusing her during her 2016 presidential campaign of subjecting she to unwanted kissing, and groping in 2007 – two years after her appearance on his reality TV program.

This lawsuit is seeking to compel Zervos’ retraction and an apology. It also seeks punitive, compensatory, and consequential damages. Trump denied Zervos claims, calling her case political motivated.

Trump sought court permission on Oct. 18 to challenge Zervos’ wrongly interfered with his freedom to speak.

Former president cited a New York State law in 2020, called an “antiSLAPP” law. It was meant to discourage harassment lawsuits against defendants who speak out about public issues.

Zervos sued Trump in January 2017. She claimed that allowing the countersuit would prolong Trump’s deposition. This was an addition to her delays which have already led to “significant prejudice.”

Trump claimed Zervos was aware of the countersuit on September 30 and she had no legal basis to object. He also said that Zervos is “unnecessarily delaying” the case through her objections.

This is partly because Trump, while in White House argument that sitting Presidents cannot be sued makes the case unresolved.

After Joe Biden’s 2020 election win, that appeal was moot and Trump has become a private citizen. Trump’s appeal to New York City’s highest court was denied in March.