'TOTAL FABRICATION': Trump denies multiple accusers' abuse claims
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump angrily denied claims Thursday from an increasing number of women who say the Republican presidential nominee inappropriately touched, groped, and kissed them without their consent.
"They're pure fiction and they're outright lies," Trump told supporters during a rally in West Palm Beach, Fla., claiming — without evidence — that he is the victim of a "concerted effort" from the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign and its patrons in the "corporate media."
The New York Times story published Wednesday night on two women who said Trump forced himself upon them — one on an airplane more than three decades ago and another at Trump Tower in 2005 — was one in a series of reports from women who accused the GOP presidential nominee of inappropriate behavior in years past.
Here are 12 women who made allegations against Trump this week
People magazine published an account from a former writer who said Trump shoved her against a wall and tried to kiss her during a break in an interview for a story about the first anniversary of his marriage to Melania Trump.
"During the presidential debate, Donald Trump lied about kissing women without their consent," Natasha Stoynoff wrote. "I should know. His actions made me feel bad for a very long time. They still do."
Trump also denied that account, tweeting: "Why didn't the writer of the twelve year old article in People Magazine mention the 'incident' in her story. Because it did not happen!" He echoed that statement during his appearance in West Palm Beach, and noted that allegations are surfacing less than a month before the election.
"These people are horrible people," Trump said, devoting most of his speech to the "false attacks" against him. "They're horrible, horrible liars."
Jess Cagle, the editor-in-chief for People, said Stoynoff believed it "her duty" to step forward, and "to assign any other motive is a disgusting, pathetic attempt to victimize her again."
Among other allegations against Trump: Beauty pageant contestants who say he walked into their dressing rooms unannounced, including Miss Teen USA participants as young as 15; a woman named Mindy McGillivray, who told the Palm Beach Post that Trump grabbed her backside during an event at Mar-a-Lago in 2003; and a former Miss Washington who said Trump groped her and invited her to his hotel room.
Jessica Ditto, deputy communications director for the Trump campaign, said in a statement that the charges "have no merit and have already been disproven by many other individuals who were present."
"When you see questionable attacks like this magically put out there in the final month of a presidential campaign, you have to ask yourself what the political motivations really are and why the media is pushing it," she said, adding that Trump "has a fantastic record of empowering women throughout his career."
At a fundraiser in San Francisco Thursday, Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, said "the disturbing stories just keep coming" with Trump.
The flurry of accusations came in the wake of a Sunday debate against Clinton in which Trump denied he had ever groped women.
That question came in response to the release of a tape, outtakes from the program Access Hollywood, in which Trump said he could force himself on women because he is a celebrity.
The allegations also surface amid polls showing Trump falling further behind Clinton, both nationally and in key battleground states.
Trump has reacted, in part, by reviving allegations against former president Bill Clinton. His guests at Sunday's debate included three women who have accused Clinton of various sexual assaults and harassment over the years.
Trump's team responded to The New York Times story with a demand for a retraction and a lawsuit threat.
Claiming the story constitutes “reckless, defamatory and constitutes libel per se," Trump lawyer Marc Kasowitz said in a letter that The Times is engaged in “a politically-motivated effort to defeat Mr. Trump’s candidacy."
Times’ lawyer David McCraw pushed back at Trump’s demand for a retraction, telling Trump's attorney in a letter that reporters worked to “confirm the women’s accounts” and gave Trump a chance to respond.
McCraw also dismissed Trump’s charge that the story was libelous.
“The essence of a libel claim, of course, is the protection of one’s reputation," he wrote. "Mr. Trump has bragged about his non-consensual sexual touching of women. He has bragged about intruding on beauty pageant contestants in their dressing rooms."
First lady Michelle Obama, during a campaign appearance for Clinton in New Hampshire, cited the Trump issue by saying "I can't believe that I'm saying that a candidate for president of the United States has bragged about sexually assaulting women." She also said, "this is not normal."
Michelle Obama blasts Trump, says comments have 'shaken me to my core'
So far, some of Trump’s financial backers say they will stay the course.
Officials with Make America Number 1, a super PAC funded by billionaire hedge-funder Robert Mercer, said they plan to continue their anti-Clinton digital and television advertising campaign, which is aimed at reaching several demographic groups, including women and the voters who backed Trump in the primaries.
“We’ve got to get the base ginned up and turned out,” said Hogan Gidley, the group’s spokesman.
Billionaire Minnesota broadcaster Stanley Hubbard reluctantly backed Trump once the New York businessman won the nomination and has made a six-figure donation to support him.
On Thursday, he called Trump a “jerk” but said he wants to give Trump, rather than Clinton, the power to appoint conservatives to the Supreme Court and elsewhere on the federal bench.
“He’s a liar and a cheat but so is she, and one of them is going to be president,” Hubbard said.
Contributing: Fredreka Schouten
