A woman who worked on President Trump’s 2016 campaign has reportedly lost a federal case in which she sued to void a nondisclosure agreement in order to pursue a separate harassment claim.
Jessica Denson, an actress and writer from California who worked briefly for the Trump campaign, described the nondisclosure agreement as “unenforceable” and “unconscionable” when she filed a claim seeking to nullify it. She further slammed the agreement she signed for being too broad and asserted that such documents perpetuated workplace hostilities because they scare employees out of retaliation for workplace grievances.
Attorney for Denson, David Bowles, said at the time of the filing, “My client believes that the campaign has been using these NDAs as a bludgeon against workers who want to speak out and anybody who wants to make a comment that could be construed as critical of the president of the United States.”
Bowles said his client faced bullying, harassment, and sexual discrimination during her time working as a “Hispanic engagement director” for the Trump campaign.
Denson, 33, filed a state suit in November of 2017 seeking $25 million in damages related to harassment and defamation that occurred during her time on the campaign. In response, attorneys for the Trump campaign filed a $1.5 million arbitration saying that Denson violated the confidentiality and nondisparagement terms of her nondisclosure agreement.
U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman ruled on Tuesday to uphold the agreement of the arbitration, refusing Denson’s request to have the case thrown out. The court awarded the Trump campaign $52,230, following the terms of the arbitration.
