Now Former ‘Apprentice’ Contestant Accuses Trump of Sexual Assault

Summer Zervos (right) gets comforted by Attorney Gloria Allred (left) as Zervos reads a statement during a news conference in Los Angeles on 14 October. (Photo: AP)

Joining the increasing list of women accusing Donald Trump of inappropriate behaviour, a former contestant of a reality TV show has alleged that the Republican presidential nominee had made unwanted sexual advances at her at a Los Angeles bungalow.

At a news conference in Los Angeles on Friday, Summer Zervos alleged that the incident took place after she was eliminated from "The Apprentice" show and approached Trump for work at one of his golf courses.

“In 2007 I was going to New York for a social obligation. I contacted Trump’s office to see if he was available for lunch. I was informed that he could not have lunch, but that he would like to meet me in his office. When I arrived, he kissed me on the lips. I was surprised, but felt that perhaps it was just a form of greeting. We sat and spoke. He was extremely complimentary,” she alleged.

Summer Zervos

Summer Zervos at the press conference on 14 October. (Photo: AP)

"Lies, lies, lies," Trump asserted at a rally on Friday night in Greensboro, North Carolina, referring to sexual misconduct allegations reported by the New York Times and other media.

Trump also hit out at Jessica Leeds, who told The New York Times that he groped and kissed her as they sat next to each other on a plane in the 1980s.

“Believe me, she would not be my first choice, that I can tell you,” Trump said.

At a news conference in Los Angeles, Zervos alleged that the incident took place after she was eliminated from 'The Apprentice' show Season 5 and approached Trump for work at one of his golf courses.

Also Read: Trump & Sexual Assaults: 11 Women in 24 Hours Narrate Their Story

Zervos alleged that after an initial uncomfortable meeting in which he kissed her, Trump called Zervos when he came to Los Angeles and asked her to meet him at a Beverly Hills Hotel, besides enquiring where she would like to have dinner.

Zervos alleged that it was then that Trump made unwanted sexual advances at her and groped her.

However, John Berry, a first cousin of Zervos said that the press conference by her was a publicity stunt as all these years she said nothing but praised Trump.

In a report published yesterday, Kristin Anderson told The Washington Post that Trump had groped her at a New York night spot in the early 1990s.

Also Read: Jill Harth, Woman Who Accused Trump of Sexual Assault, Speaks Out

Trump also denied the allegations made by Zervos, saying:

I vaguely remember Ms. Zervos as one of the many contestants on ‘The Apprentice’ over the years. To be clear, I never met her at a hotel or greeted her inappropriately a decade ago. That is not who I am as a person, and it is not how I’ve conducted my life. In fact, Ms. Zervos continued to contact me for help, emailing my office on 14 April of this year asking that I visit her restaurant in California.

The accusation against Trump comes just days after at least five women accused him of sexual assault and harassment, threatening the controversial Republican presidential nominee's already fragile campaign that was rocked by the surfacing of a video, in which he is seen making lewd remarks about women.

Trump also slammed the media, saying:

The corrupt media is trying to do everything in their power to stop our movement.

(With inputs from PTI.)