Melania Trump threatens to sue People, journalist who says she was assaulted by Donald Trump


On Wednesday night, People published a first-person account by former staff writer Natasha Stoynoff of what she says were aggressive, unwanted sexual advances by Donald Trump while she was writing a glowing profile of his first year of marriage to Melania Trump. Donald Trump denied the allegation on Thursday, saying it was made up, the room where he allegedly pinned her against the wall and kissed her had "glass walls", and that he would not have assaulted her and proposed they have an extramarital affair because "look at her."
Also on Thursday, Melania Trump, through lawyer Charles Harder — who sued Gawker to death — threatened to sue People for damages if it did not retract and apologize for three "false and completely fictionalized" lines in Stoynoff's account. Those lines?
- "That winter, I actually bumped into Melania on Fifth Avenue, in front of Trump Tower as she walked into the building, carrying baby Barron."
- "'Natasha, why don't we see you anymore?' she asked, giving me a hug."
- "I was quiet and smiled, telling her I'd missed her, and I squeezed little Barron's foot. I couldn't discern what she knew. Did she really not guess why I hadn't been around?"
People spokeswoman Marnia Perez told USA Today that People has received the letter and "we stand by our story." People deputy editor J.D. Heyman told The Washington Post on Thursday that Stoynoff did not tell editors at the magazine about her encounter with Trump until after last Friday's release of Trump's lewd comments about forcing himself on women, and they encouraged her to write up her account. After Trump's alleged assault, "she felt a great deal of worry and distress about it. Then she felt angry," Heyman said. "I think she felt conflicted at the time. She didn't know what to do. She didn’t want to make a fuss, and she was frightened." After hearing Trump deny that he groped women at Sunday's debate, he said, Stoynoff was ready to go public. People had no prior knowledge of the other accusations from three other women published Wednesday, Hayman said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Does depopulation threaten humanity?
Talking Points Falling birth rates could create a 'smaller, sadder, poorer future'
-
New White House guidance means federal employees could be hearing more religious talk at work
The Explainer Employees can now try to persuade coworkers of why their religion is 'correct'
-
Real-life couples creating real-deal sparks in the best movies to star IRL partners
The Week Recommends The chemistry between off-screen items can work wonders
-
Judge halts GOP defunding of Planned Parenthood
Speed Read The Trump administration can't withhold Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood, said the ruling
-
Trump contradicts Israel, says 'starvation' in Gaza
Speed Read The president suggests Israel could be doing more to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office