Summer Zervos, a contestant on The Apprentice, has announced legal action against President-elect Donald Trump for defamation.
Before the election, Zervos accused Trump of inappropriate sexual advances as she sought his career advice at a meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel. But she did not file a lawsuit at that time.
The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in New York. Her laywer Gloria Allred said that after he was hit with accusations of sexual misconduct, Trump "knowingly, intentionally, and maliciously threw" Zervos and other accusers "under the bus" and called them "liars."
Zervos contended that after she contacted Trump following her stint on The Apprentice," he invited her to a 2007 meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel. But when she arrived, she was directed to his bungalow, where he attempted to force himself on her and groped her.
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She said that she decided to come forward in October, after the revelation of a 2005 outtake from Access Hollywood in which Trump bragged to host Billy Bush about grabbing women by their genitals.
Zervos said that she filed her lawsuit to restore her reputation after Trump's denials. Allred said that Zervos had passed a polygraph test after offering to take one.
Before the election, more than a dozen women accused Trump of unwanted sexual advances, harassment or groping. He denied their claims.
Allred said the she and Zervos plan to take part in the Women's March on Washington, which will take place on Saturday, the day after Trump's inauguration.
Allred said that Zervos would dismiss the lawsuit if Trump would issue a retraction for calling her a liar and saying the allegations against him were false.
She said Zervos is trying to regain her reputation and has been waiting for two months for Trump to retract what he said.
"Time is up," Allred said.
Zervos said at the news conference that she wasn't seeking monetary damages and simply wanted Trump to retract what he said about her.
"Since Mr Trump has not issued a retraction he has therefore left me with no alternative other than to sue him in order to vindicate my reputation," she said.
Allred said she expected Trump's lawyers to attempt to dismiss the case or delay it.
"I would like to be mistaken and have the president-elect do the right thing," she said.
There was no immediate comment from Trump's transition team.
