Trump is at center of lawsuits from former Playboy model, former 'Apprentice' contestant

Jessica Estepa | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Ex-Playboy model alleges Trump affair and National Enquirer's cover-up A new report reveals President Trump may have carried on an affair with a former Playmate of the Year and the National Enquirer worked to bury the story. Nathan Rousseau Smith has the story.

First, Stormy Daniels. Now, Karen McDougal and Summer Zervos.

President Trump is at the center of two more lawsuits related to allegations of relationships with women before he entered politics. One was filed against a media company Tuesday by a former Playboy model who claimed she had an affair with him.

The other came after a New York court ruled that a former Apprentice contestant who accused Trump of groping her would be allowed to move forward with a defamation lawsuit against the president.

More: Former 'Apprentice' contestant battles Trump in defamation lawsuit hearing

On Tuesday, Karen McDougal, the former Playboy model, filed suit to be freed from a deal she said she made to remain silent about an alleged affair with Trump.

McDougal sued American Media Inc., the company that owns the National Enquirer, which allegedly paid her $150,000 not to speak about her affair.

"AMI lied to me, made empty promises and repeatedly intimidated and manipulated me," McDougal said in a statement provided to USA TODAY. "I just want the opportunity to set the record straight and move on with my life, free from this company, its executives and its lawyers."

A month ago, a watchdog group asked the Justice Department and the Federal Election Commission to investigate the alleged six-figure payment to McDougal.

McDougal's lawyer, Peter Stris, said her previous lawyer worked with AMI to mislead her about the deal.

"A quarter-billion-dollar company posing as a media organization systematically intimidated and silenced Karen McDougal in order to achieve its political and financial ends, and she will no longer be quiet," Stris said in a statement provided to USA TODAY. "We are confident that the so-called contract will be invalidated and are eager for Ms. McDougal to be able to move forward with her life with the privacy she deserves."

In a company statement provided to USA TODAY, AMI contends that McDougal has been allowed to speak about her relationship with Trump since 2016. The contract she signed gives AMI "editorial discretion" over publishing her life story, the company said. It also allowed for her to write columns for the company and to appear on magazine covers.

The company said it was "proud of Karen McDougal and our work with her."

"And until very recently, it was our understanding that Ms. McDougal was satisfied with our editorial approach to her work with AMI's publications," the company said. "Her lawsuit is the first time AMI has learned of her desire to go a different direction. AMI has a valid contract with Karen and we look forward to reaching an amicable resolution satisfactory to her and to AMI."

Also on Tuesday, a New York court ruled that Zervos, the former Apprentice contestant, would be allowed to move forward with a defamation suit against the president. Zervos accused Trump of groping her, then defaming her during the 2016 presidential election. Trump's lawyers asked the court to dismiss Zervos' suit.

The court denied the Trump request. In its ruling, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Schecter said, "No one is above the law." The court noted that Trump making statements about Zervos on the campaign trail "does not make them any less actionable."

Schecter cited Clinton v. Jones, a case that found that a sitting president wasn't immune from being sued in federal court for unofficial acts. That case opened the door for President Clinton's impeachment.

Former porn star Stormy Daniels said she was paid $130,000 to keep quiet about her relationship with Trump. She argued that the non-disclosure agreement she signed was invalid because it was never signed by Trump himself.

Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, claimed Daniels violated the NDA and could pay up to $20 million in damages.