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Felicia Sonmez
National Journalist of the Washington Post Political Press Team
A New York appeals court said Thursday that President Trump was facing a defamation suit filed by former "training" candidate Summer Zervos, one of dozens of women who had accused Trump of sexual misconduct shortly before the 2016 elections.
Trump called Zervos and the other women who accused her of "lying," prompting Zervos to sue in 2017.
Trump's lawyers tried unsuccessfully to block the Zervos trial, arguing that the president was safe from such lawsuits in state courts.
In their decision on Thursday, a panel of New York appellate judges rejected this argument, citing the US Supreme Court's decision in Clinton v. Jones, which establishes that presidents can be prosecuted for unofficial acts.
"Contrary to the contention of the Respondent, Clinton c. Jones did not suggest that his reasoning would not apply to lawsuits brought by states. She simply identified a potential constitutional concern. Despite this concern, this Court should not deter the conclusion that a state court can exercise jurisdiction over the President as an accused in a civil action, "they said in their decision .
Zervos' legal team praised the decision, saying Trump "is not above the law".
"The case has been heard by the court of first instance and the investigations are continuing," Mariann Wang, Zervos' lawyer, said in a statement. "We are eager to prove to a jury that Ms. Zervos has told the truth about the unwanted sexual groping of the accused and holds him accountable for his perverse lies."
Trump's lawyers could not be contacted immediately for comment.
Zervos claimed that Trump had kissed her at a meeting in December 2007 at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. Trump denied the allegations.
Mark Berman contributed to this report.
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