Journalist and advice columnist E. Jean Carroll revealed Friday that President Donald Trump allegedly sexually assaulted her in the mid-1990s. The details, verified by New York Magazine, appear in her newest book along with five other attacks she experienced by men over the course of her life.

According to Carroll, the two met at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store, sometime “in late 1995 or early 1996,” recognizing each other as “that advice lady” and “that real-estate tycoon.” She agreed to help him buy a gift for “a girl,” presumably his wife at the time, Marla Maples.

Trump proceeded to suggest that Carroll try on a lacy bodysuit, but she countered he should try it on instead. Eventually, after reaching the dressing rooms, Trump allegedly shoved her against a wall, pulled down her tights, and sexually assaulted her, “forcing his fingers around my private area, thrust[ing] his penis halfway — or completely, I’m not certain — inside me.”

New York Magazine verified that Carroll disclosed the attack to two different friends at the time. One of them suggested she report the rape to the police, while the other warned that with so much legal strength, “He’ll bury you.”


A senior White House official responded to the new allegations this week, saying in a statement, “This is a completely false and unrealistic story surfacing 25 years after allegedly taking place and was created simply to make the President look bad.”

But Carroll’s is hardly the only allegation against the president. New York Magazine described Carroll as the 16th woman to accuse Trump of sexual misconduct. That number matches how many are officially listed on the relevant Wikipedia page, not including his numerous dressing room intrusions during beauty pageants. Other sources offer counts that reach into the 20s. Many of the other stories occurred in the years immediately proceeding or following Carroll’s allegation, which she places in late 1995 or 1996.

Trump was also infamously caught on tape bragging about using his fame to sexually assault women. “I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything,” he told former Access Hollywood host Billy Bush in 2005. “Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.”

Following outcry over those comments, Trump dismissed his words as locker-room talk.

Trump has denied all of the allegations against him.

On multiple occasions in the past, Trump has cast judgment on others for sexual indiscretions, including saying specifically that disgraced former Democratic Congressman Anthony Wiener was not fit for office because of his behavior.


Trump launched his 2016 presidential campaign by describing Mexicans as rapists and earlier this year defended his ruthless immigration policies by claiming, “Thousands of illegal aliens who have committed sexual crimes against children are right now in Texas prisons.”