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When it comes to Donald Trump, one of the recurring themes (besides freewheelin' fascism of course) seems to be that it can always get worse. And this afternoon was no exception, as the eleventh (eleventh!!) woman has come forward accusing Trump of inappropriate sexual conduct since the release of the infamous "grab 'em by the pussy" hot mic incident.
In a press conference in L.A. this afternoon, adult performer, director and activist Jessica Drake said that at charity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, Trump offered her $10,000 and use of his private jet if she joined him in his suite.
In 2006, after walking around a golf course together earlier one afternoon, Trump asked Drake for her phone number, which she gave him. That evening, Trump called Drake and invited her up to his room, but said that she "didn't feel comfortable going alone" so two other women joined her. "In the penthouse, he grabbed each of us tightly and kissed each one of us without asking permission," Drake said. She also said that Trump was wearing pajamas, and that his bodyguard was present.
After being "interviewed" about their personal lives and details about shooting porn, the women left. Drake said that 35-40 minutes later, a man called her room on Trump's behalf, requesting that she come back to his suite. She declined, and a short time later, received a call from Trump himself, inviting her to dinner in his room, and to a party. Again, she declined.
"Donald then asked me, 'What do you want? How much?'" said Drake. "I told him that I couldn't because I had to return to L.A. for work. I said that as an excuse because I didn't want him to continue asking and I didn't want to be with him."
But Trump called yet again, this time offering Drake $10,000 if she would come to his room. Yet again, she declined, giving the excuse that she really had to be back in L.A. At this point, Trump offered her use of his private jet if she stayed.
"I am choosing to share my personal exchange in light of the recently released tapes, in order to lend my voice, my strength, and my support to other women coming forward," said Drake. "I am not looking for monetary compensation, and I do not need additional fame or attention. I understand I may be called a liar or opportunist, but I will risk that in order to stand in solidarity for women who share similar accounts that span many, many years."
"This is not acceptable behavior for anyone much less a presidential candidate," she continued. "I realize that in this situation I may be but a tiny grain of sand, but clearly, this is an enormous beach."
At the end of the press conference, Drake, and her attorney Gloria Allred, held up a photo of Drake standing with Trump, taken at the golf tournament.
Today's press conference came a few hours after Trump vowed at a campaign event in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania that he would sue all of the women that have come forward with accusations of inappropriate sexual conduct.
Allred, one of the leaders in the charge against Trump's sexual misconduct, basically said, "Bring it on."
Women will not be intimidated into silence by Donald Trump....If he files a lawsuit for defamation, he will have to prove that the allegations are not true. Any accuser will have a right to file a cross-complaint against Trump for defamation, because he called them liars. Be careful what you wish for Mr. Trump. The lawyers will have the opportunity to depose you. You will be required to testify under oath and we will welcome the opportunity to question you under oath.
Allred also said that "many women who have not yet come forward yet publicly may decide to do so." A couple of weeks ago, Allred said that she had been contacted by multiple women who alleged inappropriate contact from Trump.
And then she hit him with this zinger:
Mr. Trump, this morning you spoke at Gettysburg where many brave patriots fought and died. You have dishonored their sacrifice by threatening wives, mothers and daughters. They may not have your wealth or your power or your fame, but they have demonstrated enormous courage and i believe the public will support them. The threat is an admission of the hopelessness of your cause. It is nothing more than a transparent promise of revenge. It's a new low even for you. Your threat is below the dignity of the office you are seeking. I say to the women of this country, we shall overcome.
Drake also noted that she is a feminist, and an advocate for the rights of women, LGBT people, and sex workers, and is involved in charities including the Downtown Women's Centers, AIDS walk, and Habitat for Humanity. She is also involved in creating sex education workshops that emphasize sexuality, consent and communication, and has been a powerful voice for consent in the porn industry.
Allred is also representing Karena Virginia, who came forward as Thursday, the tenth woman to accuse Trump of sexual misconduct since the Access Hollywood tape was released. Virginia, a yoga instructor, said that in 1998, when she was 27 years old, she was waiting for a car to take her home from the U.S. Open in New York when he grabbed her arm, touched her breast, and said, "Don't you know who I am?"
Another one of Allred's clients is former Apprentice contestant Summer Zervos, who said that Trump "started kissing me open mouthed as he was pulling me towards him... He then grabbed my shoulder and began kissing me again very aggressively and placed his hand on my breast." Zervos, a Republican, was also reluctant to come forward, but was motivated to so after the Access Hollywood tape.
Allred also led the charge in demanding that Mark Burnett and MGM release footage from The Apprentice, from which a former producer on the show said that there was even worse from Trump.
Earlier today on MSNBC , Allred refuted claims from the Trump campaign that she's colluding with the Clinton campaign, saying, "I have in the past 40 years as a woman's rights attorney criticized both Democrats and Republicans...I'm not just singling out Donald Trump." She also stressed that she has had no contact with the Clinton campaign with regards to the allegations.
It's very sad that a common reaction to these ever-increasing stories about Trump's treatment of women is, "How many more are out there?" As our own writer Jen Carlson put it, "If you have one rat or cockroach in your home, the rule is there are more nearby that you can't see. The same rule can be attached to Donald Trump."
