Another
woman came forward Thursday accusing Republican presidential candidate
Donald Trump of “inappropriate sexual conduct” in a press conference
called by women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred.
Allred
introduced Karena Virginia, a yoga teacher and “inspirational speaker,”
at the London Hotel in Manhattan — within walking distance of the famed
Trump Tower.
“After
Donald Trump was caught on tape bragging about groping women, a number
of women came forward to share their experiences,” Virginia said. “I am
here today to add my voice to that of the other Trump accusers. I am
here to stand up to Mr. Trump for myself, my family, particularly my
daughter, and for all the women who deserve to be respected and not
subjected by sexual abuse or groped by powerful men who believe that
women can be groped, grabbed or kissed at their pleasure.”
Virginia
said she came forward to support the other women who were courageous
enough to share their stories. She also said that no one had asked her
to come forward and that many people actually advised her to keep quiet,
warning her that Trump would likely deny the claims and brand her a
liar, as he has done with others who made claims against him.
She
said she encountered Trump by chance while waiting for a car to pick
her up in Flushing, Queens, outside the U.S. Open in 1998. She was 27 at
the time. Trump had just turned 52.
“He
then walked up to me and reached his right arm and grabbed my right
arm. Then his hand touched the right inside of my breast. I was in
shock. I flinched. ‘Don’t you know who I am. Don’t you know who I am,’
That’s what he said to me. I felt intimidated and I felt powerless,” she
said.
“Then
my car pulled up and I got in. After I closed the door, my shock turned
to shame. I felt ashamed that I was wearing a short dress and high
heels. That feeling of shame stayed with me for a while, and it made me
disinclined to wear short dresses or high heels,” she said. “For a
number of years afterwards, I struggled with what to wear so as to not
attract unwanted attention.”
Virginia’s
announcement comes a day after the third and final presidential debate
between Trump and his Democratic opponent, former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton.
“Today’s
victim is also noteworthy in that her allegation demonstrates how Mr.
Trump selects his victims at random,” Allred said. “Some of the women,
including the woman who is here today, had an encounter with Mr. Trump
that appeared to be strictly by chance.”
Allred said Trump can no longer claim that he respects women.
At least 11 women have come forward with allegations of inappropriate touching against Trump.
Allred said Virginia is not considering a lawsuit against the real estate magnate at this time.
Jessica
Ditto, the deputy communications director for the Trump campaign,
released a statement Thursday afternoon responding to Virginia’s
allegation.
“Discredited
political operative Gloria Allred, in another coordinated, publicity
seeking attack with the Clinton campaign, will stop at nothing to smear
Mr. Trump. Give me a break,” she wrote. “Voters are tired of these
circus-like antics and reject these fictional stories and the clear
efforts to benefit Hillary Clinton.”
Last Friday, Allred held a similar press conference in which she represented former “Apprentice” contestant Summer Zervos, who accused the real estate magnate of groping and forcibly kissing her at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 2007.
Allred also represents dozens of women who have accused comedian Bill Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting them.