'Trump grabbed my breasts, put his hand up my skirt on flight'

'There was no conversation. It was like out of the blue'

AP04_04_2023_000008B Former President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower in New York ahead of his arriagnment in the hush money case | AP

Jessica Leeds, an 81-year-old retired stock broker, while testifying against Donald Trump said that the former president groped her as they were seated next to each other on an airplane in 1979. Leeds said it felt like Trump had a zillion hands. She was testifying against him at a civil lawsuit by writer Jean E Carroll, who accused Trump of raping her at a luxury store in New York in 1996. 

Trump's attorney Joe Tacopina said that Trump would not be giving evidence in court. Leeds told the court that she was on a flight to New York when she met Trump. He was sitting near the window when he introduced himself and they shook hands. Leeds said she had no idea who he was as she lived outside New York at the time.

"There was no conversation. It was like out of the blue," Leeds told AFP. "He was trying to kiss me, grabbing my breasts," she added. Over time, Trump has repeatedly denied all allegations of sexual assault. He has never been criminally prosecuted over any such claims. Leeds added that Trump also tried to put his hand up her skirt before she fought him off and walked to the back of the plane. Leeds said the attack lasted for seconds but felt like forever.

Leeds first made her allegations in 2016 ahead of the elections, in an interview with the New York Times. In the weeks running up to the elections, several women came out, accusing Trump of sexually assaulting them. Trump denied all the allegations.

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