Several women came forward before the American presidential election in 2016 to warn the general public that Donald Trump may be a sexual predator.
They shared stories about being “forcibly kissed,” walked in on in dressing rooms as teenagers, and grossly propositioned for sex. Unfortunately, those accusations came and went, and Trump was elected president.
But now, the movement to bring misconduct to light has gotten a second wind. The culture is very different in 2017, ever since Harvey Weinstein and a parade of powerful men have been punished for their disgusting actions, and the #MeToo movement has picked up steam.
“I feel this issue has been ‘on hold’ all year, but not forgotten,” said journalist and early accuser Natasha Stoynoff.
“It’s been simmering on the stove with the lid on, like a pressure cooker. But now the heat’s on and it’s going to boil and the lid is going to blast off.”
To remind Americans of the stories these women shared a year ago, accusers Samantha Holvey, Jessica Leeds and Rachel Crooks held a press conference on Dec. 11 to urge Congress to take action against Trump.
“A non-partisan investigation is important not just for him but for anybody that has allegations against them, this isn’t a partisan issue, this is how women are treated every day,” said Samantha.
Thanks to the #MeToo movement, some women that had previously been scared to open up about things Trump did to them are coming forward.
Jessica Leeds — 1980s
Jessica alleges that in the early 1980s, she was seated next to Trump on a plane by chance.
She says that he fondled her breasts and tried to reach up her skirt, saying “it was an assault” to the New York Times.
Years later, Jessica revealed she ran into him at a fundraiser, where he called her the c-word.
Trump denied it, mocking her appearance by saying “Yeah, I’m gonna go after – believe me, she would not be my first choice, that I can tell you.”
Ivana Trump — 1989
Trump’s ex-wife wrote in her divorce deposition that he raped her after his scalp surgery was more painful than he expected.
She said that he yanked out her hair, “then he jams his penis inside her for the first time in more than 16 months. Ivana is terrified… It is a violent assault.”
However, she has softened her account through the years, and in 2015 she said “the story is totally without merit Donald and I are the best of friends and together have raised three children that we love and are very proud of.”
Kristin Anderson — 1990s
Kristin alleges that during a night out with friends, she felt someone reach under her skirt and touch her crotch. When she turned, she recognised her assailant as Trump.
“It wasn’t a sexual come-on,” she said. “I don’t know why he did it. It was like just to prove that he could do it and nothing would happen,” Anderson said.
“There was zero conversation. We didn’t even really look at each other. It was very random, very nonchalant on his part.”
Jill Harth — 1993
While Jill and her boyfriend George Houraney were trying to make Trump a partner in their business, Trump allegedly came on to her repeatedly.
She says the worst was when he brought her into Ivanka’s bedroom at his Mar-a-Lago estate and “pushed me up against the wall, and had his hands all over me and tried to get up my dress again,, and I had to physically say: ‘What are you doing? Stop it!'”
Lisa Boyne — 1990s
Lisa alleges that in the mid-1990s, she attended a dinner with Trump and a mutual friend.
She says Trump had models walk on the table, and as they walked by he looked up their dresses and commented on their bodies. “whether they had underwear or didn’t have underwear and what the view looked like. It was the most offensive scene I’ve ever been a part of,” she said.
Candace Smith — 2003
The former Miss Ohio said that when she was competing for Miss USA, Trump came into the dressing rooms to watch them change.
“He would prey on the ones who lost so he could promise them help with their careers,” she tweeted.
“I know girls he flew to NY to stay at Trump.”
Victoria Hughes — 1997
Victoria said that Trump did the same at the Miss Teen USA pageant in ’97. “It was certainly the most inappropriate time to meet us all for the first time,” she said. “The youngest girl was 15, and I was the eldest at 19.”
Trump did fess up to going into the dressing rooms, saying to Howard Stern: “You know, I’m inspecting because I want to make sure that everything is good. “You know, the dresses. ‘Is everyone okay?’ You know, they’re standing there with no clothes. ‘Is everybody okay?’ And you see these incredible-looking women, and so, I sort of get away with things like that.”
Temple Taggart McDowell — 1997
Temple was a contestant at the Miss USA pageant in 1997, and she said Trump kissed her on the mouth when she was just 21 years old.
“He kissed me directly on the lips,” she said. “I thought, ‘Oh my God, gross.’ He was married to Marla Maples at the time. I think there were a few other girls that he kissed on the mouth. I was like ‘Wow, that’s inappropriate.'”
Cathy Heller — 1997
Cathy said she met Trump at a Mother’s Day brunch, and he immediately assaulted her in front of her whole family.
“He took my hand, and grabbed me, and went for the lips,” she told The Guardian. When she tried to pull away, “he said, ‘Oh, come on.’ He was strong. And he grabbed me and went for my mouth and went for my lips. He kept me there for a little too long. And then he just walked away.”
Cathy said he ultimately kissed the corner of her mouth.
Karena Virginia — 1998
While Karena was waiting for a car in 1998, she said Trump began commenting on her legs to other men standing nearby before approaching her.
“He then walked up to me and reached his right arm and grabbed my right arm, then his hand touched the right inside of my breast. I was in shock. I flinched. She said Trump kept asking “Don’t you know who I am? Don’t you know who I am?”
Mindy McGillivray — 2003
Mindy was photographing an event with photographer Ken Davidoff when Trump allegedly grabbed her butt.
“I think it’s Ken’s camera bag, that was my first instinct. I turn around and there’s Donald. He sort of looked away quickly. I quickly turned back, facing Ray Charles, and I’m stunned.”
Mindy said that she was scared to come forward earlier, but now she believes it’s her “patriotic duty.”
“What pisses me off is that the guy is president. It’s that simple.”
Natasha Stoynoff — 2005
Natasha was a journalist working on a profile of Trump in 2005 when he allegedly stuck his tongue down her throat.
“You know we’re going to have an affair, don’t you?” he allegedly said, talking up his sexual abilities.
Natasha thinks that though original allegations were ignored, the #MeToo movement could make a difference.
“I feel this issue has been ‘on hold’ all year, but not forgotten. It’s been simmering on the stove with the lid on, like a pressure cooker. But now the heat’s on and it’s going to boil and the lid is going to blast off.”
Jennifer Murphy — 2005
Jennifer was one of Trump’s Apprentice contestants. After an interview, he allegedly assaulted her.
“He walked me to the elevator, and I said good-bye,” she explained. I was thinking ‘Oh, he’s going to hug me’, but when he pulled my face in and gave me a smooch. I was like ‘Oh-kay.’ I didn’t know how to act. I was just a little taken aback and probably turned red. And I then I get into the elevator and thought ‘Huh, Donald Trump just kissed me on the lips.”‘
Juliet Huddy — 2005
Once again, Trump was accused of kissing Fox News host Juliet against her will.
“He took me for lunch at Trump Tower, just us two. He said good-bye to me in an elevator while his security guy was there’ rather than kiss me on the cheek he leaned in to kiss me on the lips. I wasn’t offended, I was kind of like, ‘Oh my god.'”
However, years later, she had him as a guest on her show and he said that he “tried hitting on her but she blew me off.”
That’s when Juliet changed her mind. “Now I have matured I think I would say, ‘Woah, no,’ but at the time I was younger and I was a little shocked. I thought maybe he didn’t mean to do it, but I was kind of making excuses.”
Rachel Crooks — 2005
Rachel said she was a receptionist when she was 22 and ran into Trump. She she introduced herself, he took her hand and wouldn’t let go, then kissed her on the mouth.
“It was so inappropriate,” she said. “I was so upset that he thought I was so insignificant that he could do that.
Samantha Holvey — 2006
Before the 2006 Mis USA competition, Samantha said that Trump “inspected” all of the girls.
“He would step in front of each girl and look you over from head to toe like we were just meat, we were just sexual objects, that we were not people. You know when a gross guy at the bar is checking you out? It’s that feeling.”
She said she didn’t even want to win anymore after he walked into the dressing rooms.
Ninni Laaksonen — 2006
Former Miss Finland said she and Trump were guests on Letterman the same night and while taking promo photos, he assaulted her.
“Trump stood right next to me and suddenly he squeezed my butt. He really grabbed my butt,” she said. “I don’t think anybody saw it but I flinched and thought: ‘What is happening?'”
Jessica Drake — 2006
Jessica and some friends went to Trump’s hotel after meeting him at a golf tournament, but quickly became uncomfortable.
“He grabbed each of us tightly, in a hug and kissed each one of us without asking permission,” she said.
They left shortly after, but Trump called her to go on a date, which she declined. She said he wanted to buy her, offering her $10,000 and use of his private jet to sleep with him.
Summer Zervos — 2007
Summer claimed that after appearing on The Apprentice, Trump invited her over to discuss a job opportunity.
“He then grabbed my shoulder and began kissing me very aggressively and placed his hand on my breast. He then grabbed my hand and pulled me into the bedroom. He grabbed me in an embrace, and I tried to push him away.”
As she refused, she said he “repeated my words back to me as he began thrusting his genitals.”
After Trump said she was simply looking for “10 minutes of fame,” she filed a defamation lawsuit against him three days before his inauguration.
Cassandra Searles — 2013
Searles took to Facebook to talk about what happened at the Miss USA pageant in 2013.
“Do y’all remember that one time we had to do our onstage introductions, but this one guy treated us like cattle and made us do it again because we didn’t look him in the eyes? Do you also remember when he then proceeded to have us lined up so he could get a closer look at his property? He probably doesn’t want me telling the story about that time he continually grabbed my ass and invited me to his hotel room.”
Multiple girls agreed in the comments.
Stacia Robitaille — 1990s
NHL great Luc Robitaille’s wife Stacia has become the latest to accuse Trump. She took to Twitter on Dec. 11 with her account of what happened.
“I was once on a elevator alone with @realDonaldTrump (& a man w/him) at Madison Square Gardens. He was aggressive & told me I was coming home with him. I laughed, stating I was married to a Ranger. He guaranteed me my husband didn’t make as much money as him. #ThisIsOurPresident.”
This post originally appeared on our sister site, Life & Style
