A retired stockbroker, Jessica Leeds, 81, has testified in a civil trial that former President Donald Trump groped her during a flight in 1979. According to Leeds' account, the incident took place when she was seated next to Trump in the first-class section of an airplane.
Leeds said Trump initiated a conversation with her before he suddenly decided to kiss and grope her. She claimed that the former president put his hands on her breasts and attempted to slide them up her skirt. However, she managed to fight him off by wriggling out of his grasp and moving back to another seat.
The trial comes at a time when Trump is facing multiple legal challenges including allegations of falsifying business records as part of ongoing investigations into his financial affairs. The testimony from Leeds is being used by E. Jean Carroll's attorneys as evidence for their case against Trump which seeks compensation for defamation after he denied sexually assaulting Carroll.
During the trial, it was reported that although Mr.Trump will not be attending court proceedings himself, video deposition will be shown instead. After recounting the events on board the plane nearly four decades ago, Ms.Leeds admitted staying on board until everyone else had left because she didn't want any further confrontation with Mr.Trump at terminal exit points.
In response to these allegations during previous interviews and public statements over similar incidents involving other women accusers', former President Donald Trump has continuously denied engaging in any form of sexual misconduct or inappropriate behavior towards women throughout his career both prior and post presidency period while maintaining firm stance against such claims made against him labeling them "fake news".
As one among several legal cases surrounding ex-president currently underway alongside upcoming presidential election campaigns where Mr.Trump contemplates return bid; this particular testimony serves vital role within larger context seeking credibility assessments upon contenders involved within electoral race whilst demonstrating how past actions may continue impacting public figures' reputation on long-run basis.