Trump's Lawyers Say Calling Women Liars Over Sexual Harassment Was Politics

[DonViejo]

Source: Bloomberg




By Chris Dolmetsch

November 1, 2017, 11:20 AM EDT Updated on November 1, 2017, 1:40 PM EDT

President Donald Trump’s contention that women who accused him of sexual harassment were lying was just a political opinion expressed during the 2016 campaign, his lawyers argued as they sought to block a suit by a woman who appeared on his reality TV show, “The Apprentice.”

Summer Zervos sued Trump in January, saying he defamed her by denying that he had groped her and calling women who accused him of similar behavior liars. Trump lashed out while on the campaign trail in October against what he called “phony” accusations, saying he was being attacked with lies and slander.

In a filing late Tuesday, Trump’s lawyer called her lawsuit politically motivated. Zervos can’t hold Trump liable for engaging in “political speech in the context of a public debate,” which is protected by the First Amendment, Marc Kasowitz wrote.

“Mr. Trump was merely defending his character and qualifications for office from the false attacks Ms. Zervos leveled against him just a few weeks before the presidential election,” Kasowitz wrote in the filing.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-01/trump-says-calling-women-liars-over-sex-harassment-was-politics

[jberryhill]

1. Lol, nice try

[PSPS]

7. Well, they have to come up with something -- like in real estate!

[Wellstone ruled]

2. What a reach!!!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. If just "politics" then implication is that the women have true allegations.

If they are liars and tRump did not molest then he would not say it's just "politics". Under all circumstances he would say that they are liars and be able to defend that vigorously.

If they are not liars and tRump did molest, then saying it's just "politics" (to defame them) is an admission that outside of politics their claims of molestation are true.

[rurallib]

4. There's a jury I'd like to serve on!

[Zambero]

5. So the Bill Clinton impeachment was politics as well?

With a couple of important distinctions: Clinton's Lewinsky denial was that of a consensual affair, and not sexual assault. And with him the "politics" in question advanced all the way to the impeachment phase. Why is Trump not being afforded the same treatment on the basis of his past history (or "pattern of behavior" as the GOP impeachment managers had described it), not to mention admitted behavior? Oh yes, politics.

[cstanleytech]

8. Wasn't Clinton under sworn oath when he told that lie though? If so then he did commit perjury.

Mind you I do not believe it warranted impeachment and it's pretty clear the Repugnants only did it as a political tool to weaken the Democrats.

[Cold War Spook]

11. I can't remember what he said,

I think it was just sex and his lawyers said that sex is not sexual intercourse.

[Zambero]

13. Any "qualified" Republican politicians ever put in that same situation?

Answer: zero. Many, many have qualified under similar or worse circumstances, but Bill Clinton was unique in that respect. They had him where they wanted him. If he admitted the affair, they could press ahead on the basis of "pattern of behavior". If he lied, it was perjury. Most know what escapades Newt Gingrich was up to during the 1998 gov't shutdown, concurrent with Clinton's Lewinsky liaisons. But shameless hypocrite that he is, be pushed ferociously to go after Clinton. The current occupant of the oval office merely has to label his multitude of accusers liars perpetrating "fake news", even though his admission of sexual assault was captured on tape. So yes, even though Clinton initially denied the affair under oath (with plausible reasoning that oral sex did not constitute sex), there can be little doubt that one set of standards is in place for anyone bearing the last name of "Clinton", and another less stringent standard for anyone else who would be every bit as culpable for their own bad behavior.

[cstanleytech]

14. Hey, I'm not arguing just pointing out that legally

if Bill lied under oath it is called perjury and it's a crime. In his case though it was a lie of a purely personal nature and the question should not have been asked in the first place.

[Angry Dragon]

6. How can he claim politics when he repeatedly said he WAS NOT a politician??

[LanternWaste]

9. Once an MRA, always an MRA.

Once an MRA, always an MRA. Once an idiot, rationalization idiocy as a campaign tactic.

[world wide wally]

10. Does anybody even doubt that Trump is a sexual perp anymore?

[bluestarone]

12. kinda confused here were these the cases that were settled out of court? if so then

didn't they agree that NOBODY can discuss these anymore after the court agreement? tRump BROKE court agreement? by saying they are liars? if so it's breach of court order?