Trump loses bid to dismiss accuser's defamation lawsuit

President Donald Trump

(Reuters) — A defamation lawsuit filed against U.S. President Donald Trump by a contestant on his former reality show “The Apprentice” who accused him of sexual harassment can proceed, a New York state judge ruled on Tuesday, raising the possibility of President Trump being forced to answer questions about his behavior toward women.

Justice Jennifer Schecter in the Manhattan Supreme Court said there was “absolutely no authority” to dismiss or stay a civil lawsuit by Summer Zervos related “purely to unofficial conduct” because President Trump was U.S. president.

The ruling could force Trump to submit to questioning by lawyers for Ms. Zervos and lead to further public scrutiny of other claims of sexual misconduct that have been made against the president.