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A former Trump campaign staffer recently dropped her class action claiming that the current president kissed her without consent, citing threats to her safety.
Plaintiff Alva Johnson submitted a notice on Sept. 4 that she would not be filing an amended complaint after U.S. District Judge William F. Jung dismissed her class action in June.
Judge Jung said in his dismissal that the claims represent “a political lawsuit, not a tort and wages lawsuit.”
Johnson filed her Trump class action lawsuit in February 2019, claiming that Trump underpaid her and other women of color who worked on his 2016 campaign. Her Trump discrimination class action also accused the current president of battery, alleging that he kissed her without consent in August 2016.
The kiss reportedly took place in a Trump RV during a rally in Tampa, Florida. According to Johnson’s allegations, the battery took place in front of Pamela Jo Bondi, who was the Florida Attorney General at the time, and other Trump staffers. The group allegedly joked about the incident afterwards.
Johnson does not think her claims are invalid and instead points to an unreceptive court and threats against her as the reasons for her dropping the case.
“I am facing a judge who openly questions whether the kiss is worthy of a federal lawsuit and has determined that Mr. Trump’s history of such behavior is not relevant, and I’ve endured ongoing threats to my safety. I’ve decided for the sake of my family that I will not continue with the case at this time,” Johnson said.
“Let’s be clear, I reject the false narrative that they did nothing wrong. But it is difficult to obtain justice against a person with unlimited resources and a judicial system that has so far refused to hold him accountable.”
President Trump’s legal representatives repeatedly denied the allegations brought in the Trump class action. To argue against the Trump class action, the campaign reportedly produced video footage that showed Johnson kissing Trump voluntarily or kissing the air near his face, saying: “We’re going to get you in the White House, and I’ll see you in February.” Lawyers argued that this evidence undermines Johnson’s claims.
Now that Johnson has dropped the case, Trump’s lawyers are calling the dismissed Trump class action a “total victory.”
“Ms. Johnson’s court filing last night, giving up the case, represents total victory for President Trump, and fully vindicates him of Johnson’s false accusations,” Trump’s attorney said. “Ms. Johnson’s filing last night also fully vindicates the Trump campaign, and verifies that the Trump campaign fully complied with all applicable laws as to Ms. Johnson and all of its other employees.”
Legal representatives for the campaign are reportedly considering whether or not to take legal action against Johnson for her alleged violation of a non-disclosure agreement that was signed as a part of her employment with the campaign.
Johnson is represented by Hassan A. Zavareei, Katherine M. Aizpuru and Tanya S. Koshy of Tycko & Zavareei LLP, Janet Varnell and Brian Warwick of Varnell & Warwick PA and F. Paul Bland, Karla Gilbride and Jennifer Bennett of Public Justice PC.
The Trump Discrimination Class Action Lawsuit is Johnson, et al. v. Trump, et al., Case No. 8:19-cv-00475, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
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One thought on Former Trump Staffer Drops Unwanted Kiss Class Action
I feel for this lady and her family. It’s sad that men like this get away with it because they have money and piwer!