Melania Trump and her lawyers have demanded People Magazine print a retraction to a story in which her husband, the Republican presidential nominee, was accused of sexually assaulting one of the publication’s reporters in 2005.
In the letter, Trump’s attorneys, from Harder Mirell & Abrams, contend events in Natasha Stoynoff’s story that mentioned Mrs. Trump were “false and completely fictionalized.”
! @people #NatashaStoynoff pic.twitter.com/zXNm6boveP
— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) October 13, 2016
Stoynoff purported to have run in to Mrs. Trump out front of Trump Tower in late 2005. The author said Mrs. Trump had asked, “Natasha, why don’t we see you anymore?” and gave her a hug as the two talked.
“The true facts are there: Mrs. Trump did not encounter Ms. Stoynoff on the street, nor have any conversation with her. The two are not friends or even friendly. At the time in question, Mrs. Trump would not have even recognized Ms. Stoynoff if they had encountered one another on the street,” wrote Charles Harder.
Trump’s team asked People to confirm receiving the letter and share their plan to issue a prominent retraction of story. The letter also threatens legal action if the publication does not make proper changes to satisfy Trump.
Mrs. Trump also asked the Daily Mail to issue a retraction to a story that painted her as an escort, which Harder is also representing her in. The British newspaper did issue a correction.
Donald Trump spent Thursday denying accusations
“The phony story in the failing [New York Times] is a total fabrication,” tweeted the Republican presidential nominee. “Written by same people last discredited story on women. WATCH!”
